UPSC Daily Current Affairs: 2026-02-19

Table of Contents
1. India's Moment to Restoring Balance to Copyright
2. Reimagining Higher Education for an AI-Driven India
3. Great Nicobar Project Gets NGT Nod: Strategy Gains, Ecological Questions Rise
4. Sabarimala Case Back in Focus: Supreme Court to Review 2018 Verdict in April
5. India's 'Third Way' for AI Governance
6. Diversity in Judiciary - Constitutional Debate on Appointments
7. Sarvam AI Launches 'Vikram' LLMs
8. Loggerhead Turtle
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GS2/Governance

India's Moment to Restoring Balance to Copyright

Why in News?

The rapid advancement of artificial intelligence (AI) has brought to the forefront the ongoing debate around copyright law and its implications for creativity and knowledge accessibility. Initially designed to foster learning and artistic expression, modern copyright laws have morphed into restrictive monopolies that hinder innovation and access to information.

Key Takeaways

• Copyright law, originally intended to promote creativity, has become a barrier to innovation.
• The struggle for accessible books highlights the conflict between copyright protections and fundamental rights.
• AI development faces legal uncertainties due to outdated copyright frameworks.
• Reforming copyright law to include flexible exceptions is essential for progress.

Additional Details

• Accessibility and the Right to Read: The challenges faced by visually impaired readers emphasize the need for legal reforms. The Marrakesh Treaty allows for accessible formats, yet copyright industries often resist such exceptions, prioritizing control over accessibility.
• Historical Context: Copyright law's origins date back to the 1710 Statute of Anne, which granted a limited monopoly to authors to encourage public knowledge. In contrast, modern laws offer extensive protections, often leading to 'copyright maximalism' that restricts public domain access.
• Artificial Intelligence and Data Use: AI systems require vast datasets, yet copyright treats machine analysis similarly to human reading, which is a flawed comparison. Some jurisdictions allow text and data mining to facilitate research, but many do not, creating legal obstacles for technological advancement.
• The Path Forward: Rather than abolishing copyright, reforms should restore balance by promoting contributions to public knowledge, such as open-source datasets, while still protecting creators' rights.

To ensure copyright serves its fundamental purpose of promoting creativity and knowledge dissemination, societies must adopt flexible exceptions and encourage shared resources. This approach can help navigate the challenges posed by AI while fostering innovation and access to information.

GS3/Economy

Reimagining Higher Education for an AI-Driven India

Why in News?

The Union Budget 2026-27 signifies a transformative approach to India's educational policy, focusing on the enhancement of quality, coherence, and intellectual foundations rather than just the expansion of institutions and funding. It acknowledges the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI), geopolitical changes, and technological innovations in reshaping global economies. The Budget emphasizes that India's competitiveness will rely more on a robust, integrated knowledge system than mere scale, aligning with the country's goal to become a global knowledge leader.

Key Takeaways

• AI is changing knowledge production, transmission, and application, making critical thinking and creativity more valuable.
• The Budget promotes interdisciplinary learning and future-ready skills over short-term market relevance.
• A focus on expanding access and inclusion in STEM for women and addressing structural barriers is emphasized.

Additional Details

• Education-Employment Linkages: The establishment of a High-Powered Standing Committee aims to investigate and improve the ties between education, employment, and enterprise, particularly in sectors driven by technology and AI.
• The Budget emphasizes the need for curriculum relevance and pedagogical reform to bridge persistent gaps in education and employment.
• STEM Inclusion: Targeted investments aim to enhance women's participation in STEM fields and democratize access to scientific careers, recognizing diversity as a catalyst for better outcomes in science and decision-making.
• Design Education: The Budget focuses on strengthening design education to meet the rapid growth of the Indian design industry, promoting creative capabilities and empathy in students.
• Scientific Infrastructure: Investments in astronomy, such as the Himalayan Chandra Telescope and the proposed National Large Optical Telescope, are intended to bolster India's research capabilities and public engagement in science.
• The success of national missions like Chandrayaan-3 and Gaganyaan is expected to inspire youth and broaden career pathways in science and technology.
• Integrated Educational Imagination: The Budget advocates for multidisciplinary universities where various fields intersect, preparing students to tackle complex societal challenges in the age of AI.

In conclusion, the Union Budget 2026-27 recognizes that in an AI-driven future, nations must compete not just by expanding infrastructure or increasing enrollment numbers, but by enhancing the intellectual architecture of their educational systems. By promoting design, science, inclusion, and interdisciplinary learning, the Budget aims to foster a more coherent educational framework aligned with the vision of a developed India.

GS3/Environment

Great Nicobar Project Gets NGT Nod: Strategy Gains, Ecological Questions Rise

Why in News?

The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has granted approval for the ₹81,000-crore Great Nicobar infrastructure project, recognizing its strategic importance while asserting that sufficient environmental safeguards are in place. This decision is pivotal as it may set a precedent for future projects in ecologically sensitive areas.

Key Takeaways

• The project is designed to transform Great Nicobar into a strategic and economic hub.
• Involves significant environmental concerns, including forest land diversion and tree felling.

Additional Details

• Project Overview: The Great Nicobar Project covers an area of 166 sq km and aims to develop the island into a strategic gateway in the Indo-Pacific region, affecting approximately 130 sq km of forest land and resulting in the loss of nearly one million trees.
• Core Components:
  • Integrated Township: Encompasses around 149 sq km, including residential and commercial spaces, tourism, logistics, and defence facilities.
  • Transshipment Port: Proposed at Galathea Bay to establish India as a key maritime logistics hub.
  • Civil and Military Airport: A dual-use international airport will be located east of the port, affecting local families.
  • Power Plant: A 450-MVA gas and solar plant intended to ensure reliable energy for the township.
• Environmental Footprint: The project requires land reclamation and significant material, raising concerns about its impact on the fragile ecosystem.

The Great Nicobar project represents a strategic initiative for India but also raises substantial ecological and social challenges, particularly regarding indigenous communities and biodiversity preservation.

GS2/Polity

Sabarimala Case Back in Focus: Supreme Court to Review 2018 Verdict in April

Why in News?

The Supreme Court has scheduled hearings from April 7 before a nine-judge Constitution Bench to consider review petitions against its 2018 verdict that permitted women of all ages to enter the Dharma Sastha Temple. This judgment led to widespread protests during the temple's 41-day pilgrimage season and became a politically charged issue in Kerala. The Kerala government continues to support women's entry, as stated in its 2017 affidavit, while closely observing the developments in the apex court. The review hearings are particularly significant given the upcoming Assembly elections.

Key Takeaways

• The Supreme Court will review its 2018 judgment on women's entry into Sabarimala Temple.
• The case has implications for gender equality and religious practices in India.
• The Kerala government remains supportive of women's rights regarding temple entry.

Additional Details

• Sabarimala Temple: Situated in the Periyar Tiger Reserve in the Western Ghats of Kerala, this temple is one of South India's most significant pilgrimage centers.
• Deity: The temple is dedicated to Lord Ayyappa, regarded as the son of Lord Shiva and Mohini, the female avatar of Lord Vishnu.
• Unique Practice: Devotees undergo a strict 41-day penance (vratham) before the pilgrimage, renouncing worldly comforts and adhering to spiritual discipline.
• Celibate Deity Belief: Lord Ayyappa is worshipped as a celibate deity.
• Entry Restriction: Traditionally, women between the ages of 10 and 50 were barred from entering, based on beliefs aimed at preserving the deity's celibacy.
• The first legal challenge to this restriction occurred in 1990, leading to a Kerala High Court ruling that upheld the ban.
• In 2018, the Supreme Court's landmark 4:1 verdict deemed the exclusion unconstitutional, igniting widespread protests and subsequent review petitions.
• In 2019, the Court referred broader constitutional issues to a larger bench but did not stay the 2018 ruling.
• In 2020, a nine-judge bench confirmed the review petitions were maintainable and framed seven constitutional questions for further examination.

This case continues to underscore the tension between traditional practices and constitutional rights in India, with significant implications for gender equality and religious freedom.

GS2/Governance

India's 'Third Way' for AI Governance

Why in News?

The AI Impact Summit taking place in Delhi has brought together global leaders and technology experts to discuss the governance of artificial intelligence during a time of substantial opportunity and uncertainty. The primary challenge is to establish a model that fosters innovation while also managing the known and emerging risks associated with AI. India, as the host nation, has positioned itself as a proponent of a unique approach to AI governance.

Key Takeaways

• India's governance model aims to balance innovation with risk management.
• The framework focuses on inclusivity and adaptability, unlike strict compliance or market-driven approaches.
• India has already initiated steps towards implementing its AI governance framework.
• The model addresses aims for equitable AI development, particularly in the Global South.

Additional Details

• India's Distinct AI Governance Model: India's AI governance guidelines, released in November 2025, are intended as a comprehensive governance framework rather than a mere regulatory tool. This approach encompasses not just risk reduction, but also factors such as adoption, diffusion, diplomacy, and capacity-building.
• Early Regulatory Steps: Amendments to the IT Rules now mandate platforms to label AI-generated content and enforce a three-hour takedown window for harmful material, marking a significant move towards global AI disclosure requirements.
• Implications for the Global South: India's model promotes strategic autonomy and collaboration, addressing the imbalance created by AI investments concentrated in the Global North.
• Bridging the Gaps: Critics point out that the framework lacks sufficient protections for workers displaced by automation, emphasizing the need for safeguards and minimum global standards in AI governance.

The AI Impact Summit serves as a strategic opportunity for India to showcase equitable AI governance. By fostering strong public-private partnerships and ensuring fair distribution of benefits, India has the potential to establish itself as a leader in collaborative AI governance. The upcoming year will be crucial in determining whether India can successfully integrate innovation, national security, and human welfare into its governance model.

GS2/Polity

Diversity in Judiciary - Constitutional Debate on Appointments

Why in News?

A private member's Bill has been introduced in Parliament seeking constitutional amendments to promote diversity in judicial appointments and establish regional benches of the Supreme Court.

Key Takeaways

• The Constitution provides the framework for judicial appointments in India.
• The evolution of the collegium system has impacted judicial independence.
• The NJAC was struck down, reaffirming the collegium system.
• Diversity in judicial appointments remains a critical issue, especially for marginalized groups.
• Proposals for regional benches aim to improve access to justice.

Additional Details

• Constitutional Provisions:The Constitution of India outlines the appointment process for judges:
  • Article 124: Judges of the Supreme Court are appointed by the President after consulting the Chief Justice of India (CJI).
  • Article 217: High Court judges are appointed with the CJI's consultation, along with the Governor of the State and the Chief Justice of the High Court.
  • Article 130: The Supreme Court's seat is in Delhi or any location decided by the CJI with presidential approval.
• Evolution of the Collegium System:The collegium system was established through judicial interpretation:
  • First Judges Case (1981): Upheld executive primacy in appointments.
  • Second Judges Case (1993): Established the collegium system, prioritizing judiciary.
  • Third Judges Case (1998): Clarified collegium composition and functioning.
• National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC): Enacted in 2014, the NJAC included the CJI and representatives from the executive. However, it was deemed unconstitutional in 2015, emphasizing the importance of judicial independence.
• Diversity Concerns:Current data shows limited representation in higher judiciary:
  • Only about 20% of appointments from SC, ST, and OBC between 2018-2024.
  • Women representation remains below 15%, and religious minorities below 5%.
  • The proposed Bill aims for constitutional mandates ensuring proportional representation.
• Proposal for Regional Benches: The Bill suggests establishing regional benches in major cities like New Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai to enhance access to justice and manage the backlog of cases.

The need for diversity in the judiciary is crucial for enhancing public confidence and ensuring a judiciary that reflects India's pluralistic society. The responsibility for ensuring this diversity primarily lies with the judiciary itself, necessitating reforms in the collegium process and consideration for regional benches to improve access to justice.

GS3/ Science and Technology

Sarvam AI Launches 'Vikram' LLMs

Why in News? 

 Sarvam AI, a company based in Bengaluru, has introduced two new Large Language Models (LLMs) called "Vikram" during the India-AI Impact Summit 2026. This launch comes at a time when OpenAI is also focusing on India by introducing IndQA, a benchmark to evaluate AI's understanding of Indian languages and cultural contexts. 

 Indigenous Development 

 The Vikram models include a 30-billion-parameter (30B) model and a 105-billion-parameter (105B) model. Parameters are like the internal "brain cells" of an AI model, and a higher number of parameters usually means the model is more complex and better at handling detailed tasks. 

 Key Features and Capabilities 

 Indian Language Mastery 

•  Vikram is designed to excel in all 22 Indian languages, focusing on voice-first optimization. This makes AI more accessible to people who speak different languages. 
•  Unlike global models like GPT-4, which are mainly trained on English data, Vikram addresses the "data scarcity" issue in Indic languages. This means it can accurately translate and generate content in local dialects, even though it is smaller in scale compared to other models. 

 Open Source 

 The Vikram models will be released as open source, allowing developers and researchers to access the code and build their own applications on top of these models. 

 Training Infrastructure 

•  Training large language models requires significant computing power. The Vikram models were trained using GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) through the IndiaAI Mission's common compute programme. This highlights the success of public-private partnerships in advancing AI technology. 
•  Under the IndiaAI Mission, Sarvam AI has been chosen to create India's first sovereign LLM ecosystem. This includes an open-source 120B-parameter model aimed at improving governance and public services. 
•  Other companies, such as Soket, Gnani, and Gan AI, are also working on India-focused AI models and technologies, including multilingual text-to-speech models. 

 Tribute to Science 

 The chatbot and models are named "Vikram" to honor Vikram Sarabhai, who is considered the father of the Indian space program. This tribute reflects the commitment to advancing science and technology in India. 

GS3/Environment and Ecology

Loggerhead Turtle

Why in News?

•  Loggerhead sea turtles, scientifically known as Caretta caretta, are large marine reptiles that eat a variety of foods. They are one of the seven species of sea turtles still in existence today. 
•  These turtles are called "loggerheads" because of their unique, large, and block-shaped heads. This head shape is important because it allows them to have strong jaw muscles capable of crushing hard-shelled prey. 

Global Distribution

•  Loggerhead turtles are found all over the world in the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, and Indian Ocean, as well as in the Mediterranean Sea. There are ten recognized subpopulations of loggerhead turtles globally. 

Threats to Loggerhead Sea Turtles

• Breeding Changes: Due to warmer oceans and decreasing marine food supplies, female loggerhead turtles are breeding less often. They are now shifting from breeding every two years to every four years and are producing fewer eggs per nest. 
• Capital Breeders: Loggerhead turtles are known as "capital breeders," which means they rely on stored energy from foraging over several years to reproduce. Both male and female loggerheads undertake long breeding migrations, traveling hundreds to thousands of kilometers between their feeding grounds and nesting beaches. 
• Declining Food Supply: Satellite data has shown a decrease in ocean chlorophyll levels, indicating a reduction in food supply. This decline in food is eroding the energy reserves that loggerhead turtles rely on for reproduction. 

Conservation Status

•  The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) assesses the loggerhead sea turtle as 'Vulnerable'. 
•  In 1979, loggerhead turtles were included in Appendix II of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), and in 1985, they were upgraded to Appendix I. 
•  In India, loggerhead turtles are protected under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 

International Cooperation Mechanisms

•  Loggerhead turtles are covered by various CMS instruments, including Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) for the Atlantic Coast of Africa and the Indian Ocean-SouthEast Asia regions. 
•  There is also a Single Species Action Plan for loggerhead turtles in the South Pacific Ocean.