23 February 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

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Pax Silica Initiative (2025)

India has joined the Pax Silica Initiative by signing the Pax Silica Declaration along with a bilateral Joint Statement on the India–U.S. AI Opportunity Partnership, strengthening technology cooperation with the United States.

The initiative aligns with the TRUST (Transforming the Relationship Utilizing Strategic Technology) framework in India–U.S. relations.

Meaning of “Pax Silica”

• Pax is a historical Latin term meaning peace, stability, and prosperity.
• Silica symbolically represents the digital and semiconductor era (silicon-based technology).
• Together, Pax Silica refers to a stable, secure, and prosperous global technological order led by trusted partners.

About Pax Silica Initiative

• Launched: 2025
• Nature: U.S.-led initiative on AI and technology supply chain security
• Type: Strategic economic and technological partnership framework
• Participants include: Australia, Japan, Republic of Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Israel, Greece, Qatar, and others

Core Objectives

Secure AI and Technology Supply Chains: Strengthen global supply chains for AI hardware, semiconductors, and rare earth elements. Reduce disruptions and strategic vulnerabilities

• Reduce Coercive Dependencies: Reduce reliance on dominant suppliers such as China in critical minerals and technology
• Promote Joint Investments: Encourage investment in AI infrastructure, semiconductor manufacturing, and digital systems
• Protect Sensitive Technologies: Safeguard advanced technologies from misuse or strategic manipulation
• Build Trusted Digital Infrastructure: Promote secure, resilient, and interoperable digital ecosystems

Long-Term Vision

• Create a trusted network of technologically advanced countries
• Establish a stable economic and technological order
• Unlock global prosperity driven by AI and emerging technologies

Strategic Importance for India

1. Secures Critical Mineral Supply Chains:

• Ensures access to lithium, cobalt, and rare earth elements
• Important for AI, semiconductors, batteries, and defence technologies
• Example: Australia is a major exporter of lithium and rare earth elements

2. Reduces Dependence on China:

• China dominates rare earth processing and global supply chains
• Pax Silica helps diversify supply sources

3. Boosts India’s AI and Semiconductor Ecosystem:

• Attracts global investments
• Strengthens domestic manufacturing
• Supports initiatives like IndiaAI Mission and semiconductor manufacturing

4. Strengthens India–U.S. Strategic Technology Partnership:

• Enhances cooperation in Artificial Intelligence, Semiconductor manufacturing, Digital infrastructure, Critical technologies

Export Promotion Mission (EPM)

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry has launched seven new interventions under the Export Promotion Mission (EPM) to strengthen export capacity, especially for MSMEs.

About Export Promotion Mission (EPM)

• Type: Flagship export promotion initiative
• Objective: Empower MSMEs to access global export markets
• Financial Outlay: ₹25,060 crore
• Timeline: FY 2025–26 to FY 2030–31 (6 years)
• Implementing Agency: Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT)
• Approach: Comprehensive, flexible, and digitally driven export support framework

Two Sub-Schemes under EPM

1. Niryat Protsahan (Financial Support): Improve access to affordable trade finance and working capital:

a) Export Factoring Support

• Provides working capital through export factoring
• Digital claim mechanism ensures transparency and faster settlements

b) Credit Assistance for E-Commerce Exporters

• Direct E-commerce Credit Facility: Support up to ₹50 lakh & 90% government guarantee coverage
• Overseas Inventory Credit Facility: Support up to ₹5 crore & 75% guarantee coverage

c) Support for Emerging Export Opportunities

• Helps MSMEs enter new, high-risk, or emerging export markets

2. Niryat Disha (Non-Financial Support): Improve exporter readiness, compliance, logistics, competitiveness

a) TRACE (Trade Regulations, Accreditation & Compliance Enablement)

• Supports Testing, Inspection, and Certification (TIC)
• Helps exporters meet international standards

b) FLOW (Facilitating Logistics, Overseas Warehousing & Fulfilment)

• Supports overseas warehouses
• Enables faster delivery and global e-commerce participation

c) LIFT (Logistics Interventions for Freight & Transport)

• Addresses logistics challenges in low export-intensity districts
• Reduces geographical disadvantages

d) INSIGHT (Integrated Support for Trade Intelligence & Facilitation)

• Provides trade intelligence and exporter capacity building
• Supports Districts as Export Hubs initiative

Significance of Export Promotion Mission

1. Boost MSME exports:

• MSMEs contribute ~45% of India’s exports
• Improves access to finance, logistics, and global markets

2. Supports E-commerce exports:

• Strengthens cross-border digital trade
• Enables participation in global supply chains

3. Reduces logistics and compliance barriers:

• Improves export competitiveness
• Supports exporters in remote and low-export districts

4. Promotes export diversification:

• Helps enter new markets
• Reduces dependency on limited trading partners

International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977

The International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA), 1977 is a key U.S. federal law that grants the President authority to regulate economic transactions during national emergencies arising from external threats.

Purpose of IEEPA

IEEPA empowers the U.S. President to act when there is:

• An unusual and extraordinary threat
• Originating outside the United States
• That threatens: National security, Foreign policy, Economic stability

The President must formally declare a national emergency before invoking IEEPA.

Key Powers Granted under IEEPA

Once invoked, the President can:

• Regulate or prohibit international financial transactions
• Freeze foreign assets in the U.S.
• Block trade and commercial dealings with specific countries, entities, or individuals
• Restrict imports or exports in certain emergency contexts

Historically Used For

• Economic sanctions against countries (e.g., Iran, North Korea, Russia)
• Freezing assets of foreign governments, terrorist organisations, or individuals
• Blocking access to U.S. financial systems

It is primarily a sanctions tool, not a general tariff law.

Recent U.S. Supreme Court Ruling (2026)

Supreme Court of the United States ruled that:

• The President cannot impose broad import tariffs on all trade partners using IEEPA
• Because IEEPA is designed for emergency economic restrictions, not general tariff policy

This limits the misuse of emergency powers for trade protectionism.

Alternative Law Used: Trade Act of 1974

• After the ruling, the U.S. President invoked the Trade Act of 1974
• This Act allows the President to Impose tariffs temporarily, Protect domestic industries, Address trade imbalances or unfair trade practices
• Using this law, the President imposed a 10% temporary tariff on goods from all countries.

Key Difference: IEEPA vs Trade Act of 1974

Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS)

India has assumed the chairmanship of the Indian Ocean Naval Symposium (IONS), reinforcing its leadership role in maritime cooperation in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR).

About IONS

1. Established:

• 2008

2. Initiated by:

• Indian Navy

3. Nature:

• A voluntary and inclusive multilateral forum of navies of the Indian Ocean Region
• Focuses on enhancing maritime cooperation among member countries

4. Members:

• 25 member nations
• Also includes observer countries and organizations

Objective

To enhance maritime cooperation among littoral states of the Indian Ocean Region by:

• Promoting mutual understanding among navies
• Strengthening maritime security
• Addressing shared maritime challenges
• Ensuring regional peace and stability

Key Areas of Cooperation

• Maritime Security: Anti-piracy operations, Counter-terrorism at sea, Preventing illegal trafficking
• Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief: Coordinated disaster response, Rescue and relief operations
• Information Sharing: Maritime domain awareness, Intelligence sharing
• Capacity Building: Training and technical cooperation, Joint exercises and workshops

Significance for India

• Strengthens India’s role as a net security provider in the Indian Ocean Region
• Supports India’s vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region)
• Enhances maritime diplomacy and strategic partnerships
• Counters emerging threats such as piracy, maritime terrorism, and illegal fishing

Gentoo Penguins & H5 Avian Influenza

Gentoo penguins have become the first bird species reported infected with H5 avian influenza on Heard Island, raising concerns about the spread of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) to remote polar ecosystems.

Heard Island

• A remote Australian external territory in the Southern Indian Ocean
• Dominated by Big Ben (Mawson Peak) — Australia’s highest active volcano
• Along with McDonald Islands, forms the
  Heard and McDonald Islands (UNESCO World Heritage Site)

It is one of the most isolated and ecologically pristine sub-Antarctic environments.

About Gentoo Penguins

1. IUCN Status:

• Least Concern

2. Distribution:

• Antarctic Peninsula AND Sub-Antarctic islands
• Occasionally recorded (as vagrants) in: Argentina, New Zealand, Tasmania

3. Special Features:

• Fastest-swimming penguin species (can reach ~36 km/h)

Why the H5 Infection is Significant

1. Spread to Remote Ecosystems:

• Heard Island is extremely isolated
• Indicates global reach of avian influenza

2.  Risk to Antarctic Biodiversity:

• Penguins are key species in polar food webs
• Disease outbreaks could disrupt fragile ecosystems

3. Conservation Concerns:

• Though listed as Least Concern, disease outbreaks can cause localized population crashes

Characterising Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS)

European Space Agency’s Characterising Exoplanet Satellite (CHEOPS) is a space telescope mission dedicated to studying exoplanets—planets outside our solar system.

Recent Discovery (2026)

1. CHEOPS has discovered a four-planet system around the red dwarf star LHS 1903, with a surprising feature:

• The outermost planet is small and rocky, rather than gaseous.
• This contradicts existing planetary formation theories, which suggest:
• Rocky planets form closer to stars (e.g., Earth, Mars)
• Gas giants form farther away (e.g., Jupiter, Saturn)

2. Scientific Significance:

• Suggests planetary systems may form differently than current models predict
• Improves understanding of planet formation and migration
• Helps refine theories about habitable worlds

About CHEOPS Mission

1. Launch Details

• Launched: 2019
• Operator: European Space Agency (ESA)
• Type: Space-based exoplanet observatory

2. Main Objectives

• Studying the structure, size, and composition of exoplanets
• Observing planets in the size range of Super-Earths (larger than Earth) and Neptune-sized planets

How CHEOPS Works

• It observes the slight dimming of a star when a planet passes in front of it
• This allows scientists to calculate Planet size, Density, Internal structure

Why CHEOPS is Important

• Understanding Planet Composition: Helps determine whether planets are Rocky (like Earth), Gaseous (like Neptune), Water-rich
• Studying Planet Formation: Improves models of Planetary evolution and Orbital migration
• Search for Habitable Worlds: Supports future missions searching for Earth-like planets.

SANKALP Scheme (2018)

The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) has flagged issues of weak planning, fund underutilisation, and poor Centre–State coordination in the SANKALP Scheme.

About SANKALP

• Full Form: Skill Acquisition and Knowledge Awareness for Livelihood Promotion
• Launched: 2018
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship
• Nature: World Bank loan-assisted scheme

Objective

To improve the quality and scale of short-term skill training by:

• Strengthening institutional frameworks
• Improving market linkages
• Enhancing inclusion of marginalized and disadvantaged groups
• Building capacity at State and district levels

Key Focus Areas

• Institutional Strengthening: Strengthening State Skill Development Missions & Improving governance and accountability systems
• Market Relevance: Aligning skill training with industry demand & Promoting outcome-based funding
• Inclusion: Greater participation of Women, SC/ST communities, Persons with disabilities, Aspirational districts
• Capacity Building: Training of trainers AND Development of assessment frameworks

Rapti River

The Suav (or Suwawan), a tributary of the Rapti River, has been directed by the National Green Tribunal (NGT) to be officially reclassified from a drain to a river, highlighting the importance of proper river recognition and conservation.

About Rapti River

1. River System:

Part of the Ganga river basin

2. Parent River:

It is the most important left-bank tributary of the Ghaghara River, which itself is a major tributary of the Ganga River.

Origin and Course

1. Origin:

• Dregaunra range in Nepal (Middle Himalayas)

2. Flow direction:

• From Nepal into India

3. States covered in India:

• Mainly Uttar Pradesh

4. Catchment area:

• Part in Nepal & Remaining in Uttar Pradesh, India

5. Total Length:

• 782 km

6. Major Tributaries:

• Suav (Suwawan), Rohini, Ami

7. Important Cities along the Rapti River:

• Gorakhpur, Shravasti, Balrampur, Siddharthnagar

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