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Daily UPSC Current Affairs 25 February – Based on The Hindu Newspaper Analysis

 


UPSC Prelims Current Affairs Notes – 25 February 2026 (Exam-Focused)

This article provides detailed, exam-oriented UPSC Prelims notes from important current affairs of 25 February. Each topic includes background, constitutional links, and expected prelims questions.

1. POLITY & GOVERNANCE

Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of Electoral Rolls

What is Electoral Roll Revision?

Electoral roll revision is the process of updating voter lists to ensure accuracy and fairness in elections. It is conducted by the Election Commission of India.

Types of Electoral Roll Revision

  1. Summary Revision – Annual update before elections

  2. Intensive Revision – House-to-house verification

  3. Special Intensive Revision – Conducted when large-scale errors are suspected

Objectives of SIR

• Remove duplicate voters
• Remove deceased voters
• Remove fake entries
• Add newly eligible voters
• Correct address or name errors

Constitutional Provisions

• Article 324 – Powers of Election Commission
• Article 326 – Universal Adult Franchise

Issues Raised

• Delay in disposal of claims
• Risk of genuine voter deletion
• Need for technology-based verification

Judiciary Role

Courts intervene when revision affects free and fair elections. Democracy is part of the Basic Structure.

Expected Prelims Questions
• Articles related to elections
• Types of roll revision
• Powers of ECI

Mob Lynching and Cow Vigilantism

Mob Lynching – Violence by a group without legal process
Cow Vigilantism – Self-appointed groups enforcing cow protection laws violently

Supreme Court Case

Tehseen Poonawalla vs Union of India (2018)

Guidelines issued
• Preventive police action
• Fast-track courts
• FIR against mob leaders
• Compensation to victims
• Nodal officers in districts

Constitutional Link

Article 21 – Right to Life
Rule of Law principle

Expected Prelims Questions
• Case name
• Article 21 link
• Definition of lynching

Renaming of States – Kerala to Keralam

Kerala Assembly proposed renaming the state to Keralam.

Procedure under Article 3

  1. Bill introduced in Parliament

  2. President recommendation

  3. State Legislature views taken

  4. Parliament final decision

Important – State consent is not mandatory.

Expected Prelims Questions
• Article 3 provisions
• Parliament power in state reorganisation

2. INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

India–Israel Relations

Areas of Cooperation

• Defence technology
• Agriculture irrigation
• Water desalination
• Cyber security
• Space cooperation

Israel is among India’s major defence suppliers.

Examples
• Barak Missiles
• Drone technology

I2U2 Group Members

India
Israel
UAE
USA

Also called West Asian Quad.

Expected Prelims Questions
• I2U2 members
• Iron Dome belongs to Israel

India’s Trade Strategy in a Multipolar World

Reasons

• Supply chain disruptions
• China dependency concerns
• Protectionism

Strategy

• Free Trade Agreements
• Export diversification
• Global Value Chain participation

Examples
India–UAE CEPA
India–Australia ECTA

Expected Prelims Questions
• Meaning of FTA
• Trade diversification

Reverse Brain Drain

Return of skilled migrants to home country.

Reasons

• Visa restrictions abroad
• Startup ecosystem growth
• Remote work

Related Visa – H-1B Visa (USA skilled worker visa)

Expected Prelims Questions
• Brain drain vs brain gain

3. ECONOMY

Changing Nature of Trade Agreements

Old Model – WTO-based multilateral trade
New Trend – Bilateral trade agreements

Impacts
• Weakening WTO role
• Trade fragmentation
• Regional blocs rise

Expected Prelims Questions
• WTO functions
• Bilateral vs multilateral trade

Russia–Ukraine War Impact

Effects
• Wheat supply disruption
• Energy price rise
• Global inflation

Important Facts
Ukraine – Major wheat exporter
Russia – Major oil and gas exporter

Expected Prelims Questions
• War and food inflation link

4. ENVIRONMENT & GEOGRAPHY

Climate Change Threat to Himalayan States

Effects
• Glacier melting
• Cloudbursts
• Landslides
• Flash floods

Reasons for vulnerability
• Fragile geology
• Deforestation
• Urbanisation

Expected Prelims Questions
• Cloudburst definition
• Glacier retreat meaning

Khejri Tree Protection

About Khejri Tree
• State tree of Rajasthan
• Nitrogen-fixing
• Improves desert soil

Protected by Bishnoi community.

Expected Prelims Questions
• State tree of Rajasthan

5. SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY

PSLV Failure Probe

PSLV – Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle used for Earth observation satellites.

Failure reason – Third stage ignition issue under investigation.

Importance
• Remote sensing
• Navigation satellites

Expected Prelims Questions
• PSLV vs GSLV difference

AI Challenges in India

Problems
• GPU shortage
• Limited data centres
• Skilled manpower shortage

Important Concept – Digital Sovereignty
Meaning – Control over national data and technology infrastructure.

Expected Prelims Questions
• Data localisation meaning

6. SOCIAL ISSUES & SCHEMES

HPV Vaccination Drive

HPV causes cervical cancer. Types 16 and 18 cause most cases.

Target Group – Girls aged 9–14 years.

Expected Prelims Questions
• HPV and cervical cancer link

Housing for Displaced Persons in Manipur

Government sanctioned houses for internally displaced persons.

Important Terms
IDP – Displaced within country
Refugee – Cross-border displaced
Asylum Seeker – Seeking protection abroad

Expected Prelims Questions
• IDP vs Refugee difference

7. IMPORTANT CONCEPTS FOR PRELIMS

Types of Sovereignty

Political
Digital
Data
Technological
Defence

Meaning – Power of a state to make independent decisions.

Types of Federalism

Cooperative Federalism
Competitive Federalism
Combative Federalism
Quasi-Federalism
Asymmetric Federalism

India called Quasi-Federal by K.C. Wheare.

HIGH-VALUE PRELIMS FACTS REVISION

Article 324 – Election Commission
Article 326 – Adult Franchise
Article 3 – State name change
I2U2 – India Israel UAE USA
HPV – Cervical cancer virus
Khejri – Rajasthan state tree
PSLV – ISRO rocket

MEMORY TRICK – PIESS MODEL

P – Polity
I – International Relations
E – Economy
S – Science
S – Social Issues

Revise current affairs daily in this order.

CONCLUSION

These topics are highly relevant for UPSC Prelims 2026. Focus on constitutional articles, international groupings, environment facts, and science basics. Practice MCQs regularly and revise weekly.


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