Current Affairs 09 February 2026

Content

1. India–Malaysia Strategic Partnership
2. Thwaites Glacier (“Doomsday Glacier”)
3. Biotechnology and Green Growth
4. AI Agents, “SaaSpocalypse” and Market Panic
5. Traditional Delicacies as Next “Makhana Moment”

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India–Malaysia Strategic Partnership

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Why in News ?

Recent Bilateral Developments

• India and Malaysia signed 11 agreements in 2026 covering defence, semiconductors, energy, and digital cooperation, signalling diversification of ties beyond traditional trade toward high-technology and security sectors.
• Both sides promoted local currency trade settlement (₹–Ringgit) amid global de-dollarisation trends, aiming to reduce forex risk and transaction costs in a bilateral trade relationship already exceeding US$20 billion annually.

Basics & Core Keywords

Strategic Partnership

• A strategic partnership involves sustained cooperation in defence, technology, and diplomacy; India–Malaysia upgraded ties in 2015 to Enhanced Strategic Partnership, institutionalising annual dialogues and sectoral cooperation.

Local Currency Trade

• Local currency settlement reduces dollar dependence; India already has similar arrangements with UAE and Sri Lanka, reflecting RBI’s push for rupee internationalisation in over 18 partner countries.

Semiconductor Cooperation

• Semiconductor collaboration aligns with India’s US$10 billion Semiconductor Mission (2021) and Malaysia’s established role in global chip assembly, where it handles ~13% of global testing and packaging.

Indo-Pacific

• Indo-Pacific region carries 60% of global GDP and 50% of global trade, making India–Malaysia maritime cooperation strategically significant for sea-lane security.

Historical & Civilisational Links

Maritime & Cultural Ties

• Historical Chola-era trade and migration built links; today ~2 million people of Indian origin live in Malaysia, forming one of the largest Indian diasporas in Southeast Asia.

Diaspora Diplomacy

• Indian diaspora contributes significantly to Malaysia’s services and political sectors, strengthening soft power and business bridges.

Political & Diplomatic Dimension

UNSC Support

• Malaysia reiterated support for India’s permanent UNSC membership, adding to backing from major ASEAN partners and strengthening India’s G4 reform narrative.

High-Level Engagement

• PM-level visits and CEO Forums facilitate business deals; Malaysia ranks among India’s top 15 trading partners globally.

Economic Dimension

Trade & Investment

• Bilateral trade crossed US$20–25 billion range in recent years, with palm oil, petroleum products, electronics, and machinery dominating baskets.

Currency Diversification

• Use of rupee–ringgit trade can lower hedging costs by 2–3% in transaction value, benefiting SMEs and stabilising trade flows.

Supply Chain Resilience

• Semiconductor and electronics cooperation reduces overdependence on East Asian hubs, critical after global chip shortages (2020–22).

Security & Defence Dimension

Counter-Terrorism

• Both countries cooperate via intelligence sharing under ASEAN-led frameworks; Southeast Asia remains vulnerable to extremist networks like Jemaah Islamiyah, necessitating coordination.

Maritime Security

• Malacca Strait handles ~25% of global trade, making India–Malaysia maritime cooperation vital for anti-piracy and SLOC security.

Defence Engagement

• India conducts defence training and capacity-building with ASEAN states, including Malaysia, under ADMM-Plus mechanisms.

Technology & Innovation Dimension

Digital & AI Cooperation

• India’s digital economy projected to reach US$1 trillion by 2030, making tech partnerships attractive for Malaysia’s innovation ecosystem.

Health & Food Security

• Joint agri-tech and pharma cooperation aligns with India’s role as “pharmacy of the world,” supplying vaccines and generics globally.

Geopolitical Significance

Act East Policy

• Malaysia is a key ASEAN economy; ASEAN–India trade stands around US$110 billion, making Malaysia important for regional integration.

China Factor

• China is ASEAN’s largest trade partner (>US$900 billion ASEAN–China trade), pushing India to strengthen bilateral ties for strategic balance.

Indo-Pacific Stability

• Both endorse a rules-based maritime order, aligning with UNCLOS norms and freedom of navigation.

Challenges

Trade Imbalance

• India often runs deficit due to palm oil imports; Malaysia is among India’s top palm oil suppliers.

Geopolitical Sensitivities

• ASEAN centrality requires India to avoid bloc politics while expanding influence.

Implementation Gap

• Past MoUs show slow execution due to regulatory and financing delays.

Way Forward

Institutional Dialogue

• Annual reviews and sectoral working groups can track implementation.

Tech Skill Ecosystem

• Joint semiconductor skill hubs and R&D centres support long-term collaboration.

Maritime Cooperation

• Expand HADR and joint naval exercises to secure sea lanes.

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Thwaites Glacier (“Doomsday Glacier”)

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Why in News ?

Recent Scientific Concern

• Recent field studies and satellite observations show accelerated thinning, grounding-line retreat, and ice-shelf fracturing, raising fears of irreversible instability and renewed focus on Antarctica’s contribution to future global sea-level rise.

Basics & Core Keywords

What is a Glacier ?

• A glacier is a long-lasting mass of compressed snow and ice flowing under gravity, acting as a freshwater reservoir and climate indicator, sensitive to temperature, snowfall, and oceanic conditions.

What is Thwaites Glacier ?

• Thwaites Glacier is a massive outlet glacier in West Antarctica draining into the Amundsen Sea, comparable in area to a large country, and critically important for global sea-level regulation.

Why “Doomsday Glacier” ?

• Nicknamed “Doomsday Glacier” because potential collapse could trigger substantial sea-level rise and destabilise neighbouring ice basins, amplifying global coastal risks far beyond Antarctica.

Physical Geography & Glaciology

Marine Ice Sheet Setting

• Thwaites rests on bedrock sloping downward inland below sea level, a configuration called marine ice-sheet instability, making retreat self-reinforcing once warm water reaches grounding zones.

Grounding Line

• The grounding line is where glacier ice detaches from bedrock and begins floating; its inland retreat indicates weakening structural stability and greater vulnerability to ocean-driven melting.

Ice Shelf Buttressing

• Thwaites’ floating ice shelf acts as a buttress, slowing inland ice flow; thinning or breakup reduces resistance, allowing faster glacier discharge into the ocean.

Climate & Ocean Interactions

Ocean-Driven Melting

• Relatively warm Circumpolar Deep Water intrudes beneath the ice shelf, melting it from below, thinning critical support structures and accelerating grounding-line retreat.

Atmospheric Warming

• Rising air temperatures influence surface melt and ice dynamics, though ocean heat currently plays the dominant role in destabilising West Antarctic outlet glaciers.

Data & Evidence

Current Contribution

• Thwaites alone contributes roughly 4% of present global sea-level rise, making it one of the single largest glacial contributors worldwide.

Potential Sea-Level Rise

• Complete collapse over centuries could raise global mean sea level by ~0.5 metre, while also destabilising adjacent West Antarctic ice, adding several additional metres over longer timescales.

Observed Changes

• Satellite records show rapid thinning, faster ice flow, and grounding-line retreat over recent decades, indicating ongoing dynamic imbalance rather than stable conditions.

Global Implications

Coastal Vulnerability

• Even modest sea-level rise increases coastal flooding, erosion, salinisation, and storm-surge damage, threatening megacities, ports, and delta regions globally.

Small Island States

• Low-lying island nations face existential risks, with higher adaptation costs, displacement pressures, and loss of freshwater lenses due to saltwater intrusion.

Economic Impact

• Sea-level rise raises costs for coastal infrastructure, insurance, disaster management, and climate adaptation, affecting both developed and developing economies.

Governance & Policy Dimension

Climate Mitigation Link

• Thwaites’ fate is strongly tied to global warming trajectories, making deep emissions cuts under Paris Agreement central to slowing long-term ice-sheet loss.

Scientific Cooperation

• International collaborations like large Antarctic research missions improve modelling, monitoring, and early-warning capacity for ice-sheet instability.

Challenges & Uncertainties

Timescale Uncertainty

• Exact timelines for major retreat remain uncertain, complicating policy planning, but risk-based approaches justify early adaptation and mitigation investments.

Complex Ice Dynamics

• Ice–ocean interactions, subglacial topography, and feedback loops create modelling challenges, requiring continuous observation and refinement.

Way Forward

Rapid Emission Reductions

• Limiting warming to well below 2°C reduces long-term Antarctic mass loss risks and associated sea-level rise.

Coastal Adaptation

• Strengthen coastal zoning, resilient infrastructure, mangrove restoration, and managed retreat strategies to reduce vulnerability.

Polar Research Investment

• Expand satellite monitoring, ocean sensors, and ice-penetrating radar to improve predictive capability.

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Biotechnology and Green Growth

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Why in News ?

Biotech for Sustainable Future

• Experts in a national webinar highlighted biotechnology’s role in enabling green growth, zero-waste processes, and sustainable industry, aligning with India’s expanding bioeconomy and sustainability goals.

Basics & Core Keywords

Biotechnology

• Biotechnology applies biological systems, organisms, or derivatives to develop products and processes in health, agriculture, environment, and industry, integrating biology with technology for societal and economic benefits.

Green Growth

• Green growth refers to economic development that reduces environmental risks, promotes resource efficiency, and ensures sustainability while maintaining GDP growth and employment generation.

Bioeconomy

• Bioeconomy includes economic activities using renewable biological resources to produce food, materials, and energy, reducing fossil-fuel dependence and supporting circular economy transitions.

Data & Evidence

India’s Bioeconomy Growth

• India’s bioeconomy expanded from ~US$10 billion (2014) to ~US$165 billion (2024), a 16-fold rise, making it among the fastest-growing bioeconomies globally.

2030 Target

• India targets US$300 billion bioeconomy by 2030, driven by biopharma, bio-agriculture, industrial biotech, and bio-services sectors.

Sectoral Contribution

• Major drivers include biopharma, agriculture biotech, industrial biotech, and IT-enabled bio-services, collectively supporting innovation-led growth.

Environmental Dimension

Zero-Waste & Circularity

• Industrial biotechnology supports zero-waste manufacturing, bioremediation, and biodegradable materials, lowering pollution and landfill burdens.

Climate Link

• Bio-based fuels and materials reduce carbon footprint and support net-zero transitions, complementing renewable energy policies.

Economic Dimension

Employment & Skills

• Biotechnology generates high-skill jobs in genomics, microbial technology, bioinformatics, and process engineering, supporting knowledge-economy growth.

Innovation Economy

• Start-ups and R&D in biotech attract investments, patents, and global partnerships, strengthening India’s innovation ecosystem.

Social Dimension

Health & Food Security

• Biotech advances vaccines, diagnostics, fortified crops, and precision agriculture, improving public health and nutrition security.

Rural Development

• Agri-biotech supports climate-resilient crops and bio-inputs, enhancing farmer incomes and sustainable rural livelihoods.

Governance & Policy Dimension

Policy Support

• India’s biotechnology push aligns with BioE3 (Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, Employment) and national sustainability missions.

Skill Development

• Focus on biotech education and training builds human capital for future bio-industries.

Technology Dimension

Core Skills

• High demand for expertise in gene editing, microbial culture, fermentation tech, and data analytics for biotech innovation.

Industry 5.0 Link

• Biotechnology integrates with AI, automation, and data science in Industry 5.0, enabling precision and efficiency.

Challenges

Regulatory Hurdles

• Biosafety regulations, ethical concerns, and approval delays can slow innovation.

Funding Gaps

• High R&D costs and long gestation periods deter private investment.

Skill Mismatch

• Rapid sector growth demands continuous upskilling.

Way Forward

R&D Investment

• Increase public–private biotech R&D funding and translational research support.

Startup Ecosystem

• Strengthen incubators, venture funding, and industry–academia linkages.

Sustainable Integration

• Promote bio-based alternatives in mainstream industries.

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AI Agents, “SaaSpocalypse” and Market Panic: Structural Shift or Overreaction?

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Why in News ?

Claude Plugins Shock Markets

• Anthropic released 11 open-source plugins (Jan 30) for Claude Cowork enabling autonomous legal, finance, and compliance workflows, triggering fears of AI replacing software and labour, and causing sharp global tech stock sell-offs.

Basics & Core Keywords

Agentic AI

• Agentic AI refers to AI systems that autonomously execute multi-step tasks, coordinate workflows, and make operational decisions with minimal human input, moving beyond chatbots to digital co-workers in enterprises.

SaaS (Software as a Service)

• SaaS is a cloud-based software model charging per-user subscriptions; revenues depend on human “seats,” making it vulnerable if AI reduces human workforce dependence.

SaaSpocalypse

• SaaSpocalypse, coined by Jefferies Group, describes fear that AI agents may replace traditional software usage itself, not merely enhance productivity, undermining seat-based revenue models.

Human-in-the-Loop (HITL)

• HITL involves human oversight in AI decisions for validation, exception handling, ethics, and governance, especially in regulated sectors like finance, defence, and healthcare.

Data & Evidence: Market Reaction

Global Sell-off

• Nearly $285 billion market cap erased globally after announcement, showing sensitivity of tech valuations to AI disruption narratives.

U.S. Software Impact

• Goldman Sachs software basket fell 6% (Feb 3); Thomson Reuters plunged 15.8%, LegalZoom 19.7%, RELX 14%, reflecting direct threat to legal/knowledge software.

Indian Market Impact

• Nifty IT fell 5.87% in one day, wiping out nearly ₹2 lakh crore, steepest fall since March 2020; Infosys and TCS fell >7%.

Technological Significance

From Assistive to Autonomous

• Shift from AI assistants to autonomous agents marks transition from productivity tool to workflow executor, threatening service-based business models.

Bloomberg GPT Benchmark

• BloombergGPT (50B parameters, 363B tokens) proved domain-specific AI can outperform general models in finance, setting precedent for vertical AI disruption.

GitHub Coding Evidence

• Studies show ~4% of public GitHub commits authored by Claude Code, projected to reach 20% by year-end, indicating rapid AI penetration in coding.

Economic & Business Model Impact

Headcount Model at Risk

• India’s outsourcing relies on billing per employee; if one agent replaces teams, pricing models face structural repricing.

Corporate Signals

• Salesforce paused hiring engineers/lawyers citing AI productivity; Goldman Sachs deploying AI for compliance and onboarding tasks.

Capital Expenditure Paradox

• Contradiction noted by BofA: AI cannot both reduce capex and simultaneously replace all software; suggests overreaction.

Employment Dimension

Jobs at Risk

• Entry-level testing, maintenance, and compliance roles most vulnerable as they involve repetitive rule-based tasks.

Reskilling Imperative

• Demand rising for AI architects, governance specialists, and HITL supervisors rather than traditional coders.

Quantitative Signal

• TCS reportedly reduced workforce by ~11,000, and some firms cut fresher hiring from 80% to near zero in certain teams.

Comparative Insight: DeepSeek Moment

DeepSeek Precedent

• DeepSeek (Jan 2025) triggered Nvidia’s $589B single-day loss, yet stock recovered 58% within a year, showing panic cycles in AI markets.

Expert’s View

• Bank of America and Gartner termed sell-off “overblown,” arguing enterprises won’t discard existing software investments quickly.

Strategic Implications for India

Need for Pivot

• Shift from labour arbitrage to AI deployment partnerships combining domain expertise with platforms.

Competitive Advantage

• Indian firms possess deep domain knowledge in BFSI and healthcare, enabling HITL governance and AI integration services.

Investment Signals

• TCS–TPG committed $2B for AI data centres; Wipro allocated $1B for AI360, showing gradual adaptation.

Challenges

Speed Gap

• Global firms integrating AI faster than Indian IT transition pace.

Revenue Model Risk

• Seat-based billing vulnerable to automation.

Skill Gap

• Large-scale reskilling required for AI system design.

Way Forward

AI Governance & HITL

• Build HITL centres for regulated sectors ensuring compliance and trust.

Reskilling at Scale

• Train engineers in AI architecture and domain analytics.

Platform Partnerships

• Collaborate with leading AI firms rather than compete at foundation-model level.

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Traditional Delicacies as Next “Makhana Moment”

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Why in News ?

Cultural Visibility → Market Opportunity

• National spotlight on Chhattisgarh’s thethri and khurmi during a student interaction with the Prime Minister signals how cultural visibility can trigger market demand, branding, and value-chain development for regional foods.

Basics & Core Keywords

Traditional Delicacies

• Region-specific foods using local ingredients and customary methods; they encode ecological knowledge, seasonality, and community practices, forming part of intangible cultural heritage and local identity.

“Makhana Moment”

• Makhana (fox nuts) evolved from a local snack to a national superfood through branding, GI support, and organised value chains; similar pathway can scale other regional foods.

Value Addition

• Value addition involves processing, branding, packaging, and quality certification that increase product price and farmer/producer income beyond raw commodity sales.

Case Focus: Thethri

• Made from besan (gram flour) and spices, deep-fried for low moisture and longer shelf life, enabling storage, transport, and small-scale commercialisation across regional markets.

Cultural Embedment

• Linked to Diwali and harvest festivities, thethri carries ritual value, aiding storytelling-based branding and festival-driven demand spikes.

Case Focus: Khurmi

• Prepared from jaggery, wheat flour, and semolina; jaggery adds iron and minerals, positioning khurmi as a traditional, less-refined sweet alternative to processed confectionery.

Rural Suitability

• Simple ingredients and techniques allow SHGs and home enterprises to produce at scale with low capital, supporting decentralised rural industries.

Economic Angle: From Snack to Sector

Rural Livelihoods

• Scaling traditional snacks through SHGs/FPOs can generate non-farm rural income, especially for women; India has 80+ lakh SHGs linked to livelihoods missions.

Domestic Market Potential

• India’s packaged snacks market exceeds $15–20 billion, growing with urban demand for ethnic and healthier options; regional products can capture niche segments.

Export Possibility

• Ethnic foods ride diaspora demand; processed food exports from India cross $40 billion annually, indicating room for branded traditional snacks.

“Next Makhana” Pathway

GI & Branding

• GI tagging and state branding (like Bihar makhana) can signal authenticity, prevent imitation, and command price premiums for thethri/khurmi.

Processing & Standards

• FSSAI-compliant units, standardised recipes, and hygienic packaging extend shelf life and enable retail/e-commerce entry.

Cluster Development

• ODOP (One District One Product) and PMFME schemes can build clusters for traditional foods, linking credit, training, and marketing.

Nutrition & Sustainability

Clean-Label Advantage

• Traditional snacks use short ingredient lists (besan, jaggery, grains), aligning with clean-label trends and reduced ultra-processed consumption.

Local Sourcing

• Using local grains/pulses reduces transport emissions and supports circular local economies.

Governance & Policy Linkages

Scheme Convergence

• Converge PMFME, NRLM, ODOP, and GI promotion for end-to-end support from production to branding.

Tourism Link

• Culinary trails and state festivals can anchor food tourism, boosting regional economies.

Challenges

Quality Consistency

• Variability in taste and hygiene can limit scale; requires training and SOPs.

Commercial Dilution

• Over-sweetening, additives, or ingredient substitution may erode authenticity and nutrition.

Market Access

• Small producers face logistics and retail entry barriers without aggregator platforms.

Way Forward

Brand-Build-Scale

• Create state-backed brands, storytelling labels, and influencer marketing to build recognition.

Digital Commerce

• Use ONDC and e-commerce for pan-India reach with small-batch producers.

Capacity Building

• Train SHGs in food safety, packaging, and financial literacy for sustainable scaling.

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