Legacy IAS — Bangalore
Current Affairs Analysis for UPSC
Daily Comprehensive Coverage — 7 Topics
19 February 2026
Table of Contents
Article 01
The Need for Diversity in the Judiciary
A Private Member Bill seeks to amend Article 124 to mandate regional SC benches and reform judicial appointments — reviving the Collegium vs NJAC debate.
GS 2 — Polity & Governance
→ Article 124 reform & Collegium vs NJAC
→ Basic Structure Doctrine
→ Regional benches under Article 130
→ Basic Structure Doctrine
→ Regional benches under Article 130
GS 2 — Federalism & Access
→ Geographic inequity in SC access
→ Law Commission 229th Report
→ 90,000+ pending cases
→ Law Commission 229th Report
→ 90,000+ pending cases
🧠 Mind Map — Judicial Diversity & Reform
|
Judicial Diversity & Reform
| ||||
|
Constitutional
Art 124 — appointments
Art 130 — alternate seat 99th CAA — NJAC |
Collegium
2nd & 3rd Judges Cases
Opacity criticism Low social diversity |
Regional Benches
90,000+ pending
229th Law Commission Cassation Bench model |
Social Justice
SC/ST/OBC/Women
Art 14 & 16 Public confidence |
Way Forward
Transparent criteria
Diversity benchmarks Hybrid hearings |
⚖️ Constitutional & Legal Framework
• Article 124 — SC judges appointed by President after consultation with judiciary.
• 2nd Judges Case (1993) and 3rd Judges Case (1998) established Collegium primacy — CJI + 4 senior judges recommend appointments.
• 99th CAA (2014) created NJAC — struck down in SC Advocates-on-Record Association v. UoI (2015) for violating Basic Structure.
• Article 130 permits SC to sit elsewhere with Presidential approval — never permanently operationalised.
• 2nd Judges Case (1993) and 3rd Judges Case (1998) established Collegium primacy — CJI + 4 senior judges recommend appointments.
• 99th CAA (2014) created NJAC — struck down in SC Advocates-on-Record Association v. UoI (2015) for violating Basic Structure.
• Article 130 permits SC to sit elsewhere with Presidential approval — never permanently operationalised.
🏛️ Governance & Access to Justice
• SC operates only from New Delhi — limiting access for southern, eastern, and NE litigants.
• Over 90,000 pending cases reflect centralised backlog pressures.
• Law Commission 229th Report (2009) — recommended Constitution Bench in Delhi + regional Cassation Benches for appellate work.
• Marginalised groups (SC/ST/OBC, women) remain disproportionately underrepresented in higher judiciary.
• Over 90,000 pending cases reflect centralised backlog pressures.
• Law Commission 229th Report (2009) — recommended Constitution Bench in Delhi + regional Cassation Benches for appellate work.
• Marginalised groups (SC/ST/OBC, women) remain disproportionately underrepresented in higher judiciary.
🔄 Challenges & Way Forward
Challenges
✗ Altering appointments risks basic structure confrontation
✗ Executive involvement may dilute judicial independence
✗ Regional benches could cause forum shopping
✗ Political resistance and institutional mistrust
✗ Executive involvement may dilute judicial independence
✗ Regional benches could cause forum shopping
✗ Political resistance and institutional mistrust
Way Forward
✓ Publish Collegium selection criteria and reasons
✓ Regional benches for appellate; Constitution Bench in Delhi
✓ Diversity benchmarks without formal quotas
✓ Strengthen digitisation and hybrid hearings
✓ Regional benches for appellate; Constitution Bench in Delhi
✓ Diversity benchmarks without formal quotas
✓ Strengthen digitisation and hybrid hearings
📌 Prelims Pointers
📌 Art 124 — SC establishment & appointments
📌 Art 130 — SC seat & possible alternate locations
📌 99th CAA 2014 — Created NJAC (struck down 2015)
📌 2nd & 3rd Judges Cases — Collegium primacy established
📌 Judicial independence is part of the Basic Structure Doctrine
📌 Art 130 — SC seat & possible alternate locations
📌 99th CAA 2014 — Created NJAC (struck down 2015)
📌 2nd & 3rd Judges Cases — Collegium primacy established
📌 Judicial independence is part of the Basic Structure Doctrine
📝 Prelims MCQ
QUESTION 1
Consider the following:
1. NJAC was established by the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act.
2. NJAC was struck down for violating the Basic Structure Doctrine.
3. The Collegium was established through a Parliamentary Act.
Which is/are correct?
1. NJAC was established by the 99th Constitutional Amendment Act.
2. NJAC was struck down for violating the Basic Structure Doctrine.
3. The Collegium was established through a Parliamentary Act.
Which is/are correct?
A. 1 only
B. 1 and 2 only
C. 2 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
QUESTION 2
The Law Commission’s 229th Report (2009) recommended:
A. Abolishing the Supreme Court
B. Constitution Bench in Delhi + regional Cassation Benches
C. Executive-led appointments body
D. Making High Court decisions non-appealable
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
“Discuss the constitutional and governance implications of establishing regional benches of the Supreme Court and reforming the judicial appointments process in India.”
(250 Words | 15 Marks)
Article 02
1,954 Border Villages Under Development Scheme
VVP-II expands to 1,954 villages across 15 States & 2 UTs along borders with Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, and Myanmar.
1,954
Villages covered
15+2
States & UTs
5
Border countries
2023
VVP-I launch year
🧠 Mind Map — Vibrant Village Programme II
VVP Phase II | |||
Security Development-led defence Anti-infiltration Multi-front doctrine |
Economic Tourism, horticulture Reduce migration Border trade |
Social National integration Tribal community support Education & health |
Constitutional Art 355 — Union duty Art 38 — inequalities Union List Entry 1&2 |
📊 Way Forward — Flowchart
1
Integrated Border Framework — Combine security, infrastructure, and human development metrics.
2
Community Participation — Context-specific livelihood models through local planning.
3
Green Infrastructure — Climate resilience in fragile border ecosystems.
4
Digital Connectivity — Integrate border youth into national skilling platforms.
5
Outcome Monitoring — Periodic evaluation with outcome-based indicators.
📌 Prelims Pointers
📌 VVP-I: 2023 (China border only)
📌 VVP-II: April 2025 — 1,954 villages across 5 borders
📌 “Last Village–First Village” approach
📌 Launch: Nathanpur village, Cachar district, Assam
📌 VVP-II: April 2025 — 1,954 villages across 5 borders
📌 “Last Village–First Village” approach
📌 Launch: Nathanpur village, Cachar district, Assam
📝 Prelims MCQ
QUESTION 3
VVP Phase II covers border areas along how many neighbouring countries?
A. 3 (China, Pakistan, Nepal)
B. 4 (China, Pakistan, Nepal, Myanmar)
C. 5 (Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar)
D. 6 (all land neighbours)
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
“Border security cannot rely solely on military preparedness; it requires developmental integration.” Examine VVP Phase II.
(250 Words | 15 Marks)
ARTICLE 03
Loggerhead Turtles — Climate Change Threats
17-year Cabo Verde study reveals multi-dimensional climate stress — breeding intervals extended from 2 to 4 years, declining body & clutch size.
Climate Impact on Loggerheads | ||||
Ocean Warming Altered migration Earlier nesting |
Productivity ↓ Less prey Fewer eggs |
Sea-Level Rise Beach erosion Fewer nest sites |
Sand Temp ↑ Sex ratio skew More females |
India Context Olive ridley Gahirmatha |
• Caretta caretta — “capital breeders” accumulating energy over years before reproduction.
• Satellite data shows declining chlorophyll = falling primary productivity in Atlantic foraging grounds.
• Breeding shifted from every 2 years → 4 years — halving lifetime reproductive output.
• Declining female body size further reduces clutch sizes, compounding vulnerability.
• Satellite data shows declining chlorophyll = falling primary productivity in Atlantic foraging grounds.
• Breeding shifted from every 2 years → 4 years — halving lifetime reproductive output.
• Declining female body size further reduces clutch sizes, compounding vulnerability.
Challenges
✗ Climate impacts beyond local jurisdiction
✗ Limited long-term data
✗ Coastal development vs habitat
✗ Cumulative ocean acidification
✗ Limited long-term data
✗ Coastal development vs habitat
✗ Cumulative ocean acidification
Way Forward
✓ Conservation beyond nesting beaches
✓ Satellite monitoring integration
✓ Global climate commitments
✓ Community-led marine conservation
✓ Satellite monitoring integration
✓ Global climate commitments
✓ Community-led marine conservation
📌 Prelims Pointers
📌 Caretta caretta | Vulnerable (IUCN) — NOT Endangered
📌 Temperature-dependent sex determination
📌 Capital breeders | Major nesting: Cabo Verde
📌 Temperature-dependent sex determination
📌 Capital breeders | Major nesting: Cabo Verde
QUESTION 4
Consider:
1. Loggerheads are Endangered on IUCN Red List.
2. They exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination.
3. They are “capital breeders.”
Which is/are correct?
1. Loggerheads are Endangered on IUCN Red List.
2. They exhibit temperature-dependent sex determination.
3. They are “capital breeders.”
Which is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
“Climate change affects marine species not only through habitat loss but also by altering reproductive biology.” Discuss with reference to loggerhead turtles.
(250 Words | 15 Marks)
ARTICLE 04
AI Disruption & Indian IT — The “Deployment Gap”
India’s $300B+ IT sector must pivot from coding arbitrage to AI deployment & enterprise transformation.
$300B+
IT sector size
5M+
IT professionals
• “Deployment gap” = lag between AI innovation and enterprise-scale implementation — India’s opportunity space.
• AI automates coding/testing but enterprise adoption limited by legacy systems and governance concerns.
• New roles: AI trainers, system integrators, data governance specialists, workflow designers.
• India can become the world’s largest AI implementation hub leveraging its workforce scale.
• AI automates coding/testing but enterprise adoption limited by legacy systems and governance concerns.
• New roles: AI trainers, system integrators, data governance specialists, workflow designers.
• India can become the world’s largest AI implementation hub leveraging its workforce scale.
Challenges
✗ AI evolution outpaces reskilling
✗ Smaller firms can’t afford transition
✗ Data privacy & ethical AI gaps
✗ Global recession compounds pressure
✗ Smaller firms can’t afford transition
✗ Data privacy & ethical AI gaps
✗ Global recession compounds pressure
Way Forward
✓ Large-scale AI reskilling for 5M+
✓ MSME AI adoption incentives
✓ PPP for domain-specific AI
✓ Shift narrative: loss → transformation
✓ MSME AI adoption incentives
✓ PPP for domain-specific AI
✓ Shift narrative: loss → transformation
QUESTION 5
The “Deployment Gap” in AI refers to:
A. Gap in AI research funding between India and China
B. Gap between AI innovation and enterprise-scale implementation
C. Gap between IT hiring demand and graduate supply
D. Gap in India’s AI patents vs global average
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
“AI may not eliminate India’s IT industry but transform its nature.” Examine the ‘deployment gap’ thesis.
(250 Words)
ARTICLE 05
IEA — State of Energy Innovation 2026
Geopolitics & energy security now drive clean energy innovation alongside climate goals. 320+ start-ups funded in 2025, but the “valley of death” persists.
640
Technologies tracked
320+
Start-ups funded
0.1%
GDP R&D target
32+13
IEA members + associates
• “Valley of death” = funding gap between prototype and commercial-scale deployment.
• 640 technologies tracked — many technically mature but blocked by regulatory/market barriers.
• Nuclear fusion milestones in 2025 (Germany, UK, China, France, US) but commercial deployment remains distant.
• India (IEA Association Country) targeting 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
• 640 technologies tracked — many technically mature but blocked by regulatory/market barriers.
• Nuclear fusion milestones in 2025 (Germany, UK, China, France, US) but commercial deployment remains distant.
• India (IEA Association Country) targeting 500 GW non-fossil capacity by 2030.
Challenges
✗ “Valley of death” funding gap
✗ Regulatory inertia on grid tech
✗ Uneven R&D across regions
✗ Geopolitical fragmentation
✗ Regulatory inertia on grid tech
✗ Uneven R&D across regions
✗ Geopolitical fragmentation
Way Forward
✓ Public R&D toward 0.1% GDP
✓ Grid modernisation policies
✓ Procurement for green H₂ & storage
✓ International research platforms
✓ Grid modernisation policies
✓ Procurement for green H₂ & storage
✓ International research platforms
QUESTION 6
India’s status with the IEA is:
A. Full member
B. Association Country
C. Observer only
D. Not affiliated
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
“Energy innovation is shaped as much by geopolitics as by climate goals.” Discuss with IEA 2026 insights and India’s priorities.
ARTICLE 06
ISA — Global AI-for-Energy Mission (2026)
ISA launched AI-for-Energy Mission at India AI Impact Summit — AI + citizen-centric platforms for 120+ member countries. India’s DPI model as replicable template.
• AI enhances grid resilience, bidirectional power flows, demand forecasting, distributed solar integration.
• Prosumers (producer-consumers) with rooftop solar require intelligent grid management.
• Digital Twin technologies enable real-time simulation and predictive maintenance.
• Supports SDG 7 (Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Innovation), SDG 13 (Climate Action).
• Prosumers (producer-consumers) with rooftop solar require intelligent grid management.
• Digital Twin technologies enable real-time simulation and predictive maintenance.
• Supports SDG 7 (Clean Energy), SDG 9 (Innovation), SDG 13 (Climate Action).
📌 Prelims Pointers
📌 ISA: 2015 | HQ Gurugram (NOT New Delhi) | 120+ members
📌 AI-for-Energy Mission launched at AI Impact Summit 2026
📌 India target: 500 GW non-fossil by 2030
📌 AI-for-Energy Mission launched at AI Impact Summit 2026
📌 India target: 500 GW non-fossil by 2030
QUESTION 7
ISA is headquartered in:
A. New Delhi
B. Gurugram
C. Geneva
D. Nairobi
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
“Digital infrastructure is central to the clean energy transition.” Examine ISA’s AI-for-Energy Mission for developing economies.
ARTICLE 07
Lion-Tailed Macaque — Western Ghats Conservation
17+ year study shows LTMs surviving in plantation landscapes, challenging extinction assumptions — but stability is ecologically fragile.
• Macaca silenus — Endangered (IUCN) | Endemic to Western Ghats evergreen forests.
• Troops persisted 40+ years in Valparai plantation fragments — defying island-biogeography predictions.
• Behavioural plasticity: road crossing, ground movement — but increases mortality (vehicles, electrocution, feral dogs).
• Conservation policy must shift from fortress protection → landscape-level management: canopy bridges, corridor restoration, cumulative EIAs.
• Troops persisted 40+ years in Valparai plantation fragments — defying island-biogeography predictions.
• Behavioural plasticity: road crossing, ground movement — but increases mortality (vehicles, electrocution, feral dogs).
• Conservation policy must shift from fortress protection → landscape-level management: canopy bridges, corridor restoration, cumulative EIAs.
Challenges
✗ Genetic isolation despite demographic stability
✗ Infrastructure outpacing corridor restoration
✗ Climate stress on montane rainforests
✗ Uneven mitigation across states
✗ Infrastructure outpacing corridor restoration
✗ Climate stress on montane rainforests
✗ Uneven mitigation across states
Way Forward
✓ Landscape-level planning with plantations
✓ Canopy connectivity for gene flow
✓ Cumulative biodiversity-inclusive EIAs
✓ Plantation ESG collaboration
✓ Canopy connectivity for gene flow
✓ Cumulative biodiversity-inclusive EIAs
✓ Plantation ESG collaboration
📌 Prelims Pointers
📌 Macaca silenus | Endangered (IUCN)
📌 Endemic to Western Ghats (NOT Eastern Ghats)
📌 Stronghold: Silent Valley National Park
📌 WPA 1972 | W. Ghats UNESCO WHS 2012
📌 Endemic to Western Ghats (NOT Eastern Ghats)
📌 Stronghold: Silent Valley National Park
📌 WPA 1972 | W. Ghats UNESCO WHS 2012
QUESTION 8
The lion-tailed macaque is endemic to:
A. Eastern Ghats
B. Western Ghats
C. Northeast India
D. Andaman & Nicobar Islands
MAINS PRACTICE QUESTION
“Fragmentation does not always lead to immediate extinction.” Discuss with reference to the lion-tailed macaque and landscape-level conservation.
REFERENCE
Frequently Asked Questions
All 7 topics covered
⚖️ Judiciary
🏔️ Vibrant Village Programme
🐢 Loggerhead Turtles
💻 AI & Indian IT
⚡ IEA & ISA
🐒 Lion-Tailed Macaque
Legacy IAS — Bangalore
UPSC Civil Services Coaching | Current Affairs — 19 February 2026
