UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 12-02-2026

One Liners 12-02-2026

History, Art and Culture

Kerala International Folk Festival

• Theme of Performance – Ghanaian folk artists presented Akwaaba, a traditional welcome song.
• Significance – Encourages cultural exchange and highlights Ghana’s rich artistic heritage.
  • Adinkra Symbols – Visual motifs representing values, proverbs, and concepts.
  • Kente Cloth – Brightly woven silk and cotton textile symbolizing identity, wealth, and prestige.
  • Other Crafts – Pottery, wood carving, sculpture, and jewelry blending utility with artistry.
• Music & Dance –
  • Drums – Core to ceremonies, providing rhythm.
  • Adowa Dance – Graceful and expressive.
  • Kpanlogo Dance – Energetic group performance.
  • Modern Fusion – Azonto and Hiplife mix tradition with contemporary styles.
  • Highlife Music – Colonial-era genre combining American jazz with Akan melodies.

Wajid Ali Shah: A Cultural and Literary Legacy

• Translated by – Talat Fatima (daughter of original author Kaukub Quder SajjadAli Meerza).
• Key Revelation –
  • He was not exiled to Calcutta (Kolkata). 
  • He went voluntarily to take a ship to London to petition the British Parliamentand Queen.
  • His departure was restricted, leading to his prolonged stay.
• Historical Context –
  • Last emperor of Awadh,
  • Dethroned by the British,
  • Lived his final three decades in Calcutta, and died in 1887 at age 65.
• Cultural Legacy –
  • Poet, writer, and composer.
  • Famous for literary love letters to his begums.
  • Secular outlook, with verses on Radha and Krishna.
  • Wrote in Urdu, Persian, Arabic, and Braj Bhasha.

Geography

Chabahar Port

• Situated in – Sistan-Baluchestan province, Iran, along the Gulf of Oman.
• Feature – Notable as Iran’s only oceanic and deep-water port, offering direct access to the Indian Ocean.
• India’s Involvement
• Terminal Operations - India Ports Global Limited (IPGL) has managed the Shahid Beheshti Terminal since 2018.
• Investment - India committed $120 million for development, completing payment before the expiry of the US sanctions waiver.
• Agreement - A 10-year MoU was signed in May 2024 to ensure continued cooperation.

Chabahar Port – Strategic Importance for India

• Connectivity – Enables trade routes to Afghanistan and Central Asia, bypassing Pakistan
• Regional influence – Serves as a counterbalance to China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and Pakistan’s Gwadar Port
• Economic corridor – Pl ays a role in the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC)
• Humanitarian aid – Utilized for delivering aid shipments, such as wheat to Afghanistan

Social Issues

Ban on Social Media

Australia has introduced a ban preventing children under 16 from using social media.

• India’s Position – No law yet banning under-16s from social media.
• Reason for ban –
  • Shields youth from anxiety and body image issues.
  • Limits predator risks.
  • Protects children’s data privacy.
• Case Against Ban –
  • Easy to bypass with VPNs and dark web tools.
  • ID checks risk mass surveillance.
  • Marginalized groups lose vital online support.
  • Verification tech fails 30–40% of the time.
  • Poor children lose access to online education.
• Better Approach –
  • Enforce “Safety by Design” with privacy defaults.
  • Audit algorithms targeting minors.
  • Teach digital literacy in schools.
  • Strengthen parental controls.
  • Create a co-regulation body with experts and government.

Thanya Nathan C - Kerala's 1^st Visually Challenged Woman Judge

• Achievement – Topped the merit list for candidates with benchmark disabilities.
• Precedent – Follows the 2025 Supreme Court ruling allowing visually impaired candidates in judicial service.
• Significance – Represents a milestone for inclusivity in India’s judiciary.
  • Inclusive Justice – Promotes equal opportunities and representation for persons with disabilities.
• Legal Framework – Supported by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016, which ensures equal employment opportunities.

Bonded Labour

Polity & Governance

Frontier Nagaland Territorial Authority (FNTA) Agreement

• Agreement Signatories – Indian Centre, Nagaland Government, and Eastern Nagaland Peoples’ Organisation (ENPO).
• Function as – A new administrative setup but remain within Nagaland.
• Objective – Establishment of FNTA to address eastern Nagaland’s demands.
• ENPO’s Demand – Initially sought a separate state since 2010 due to neglect; later accepted autonomy under FNTA.
• ENPO’s Stance –
  • FNTA seen as the first step toward statehood.
  • Considered the beginning of an administrative journey.
  • Stresses unity among eight tribes for governance.
  • Accepted FNTA as it aligned with aspirations.
• Geography – Covers 8 tribes across 6 eastern districts of Nagaland.

UNION SECRETARIES' SCORECARD (Feb 2025)

• File Disposal – 20 marks, highest weight, focused on speed.
• Output/Activities – 15 marks for measurable work done.
• Scheme Expenditure – 15 marks tied to spending efficiency.
• Project Completion (PMG) – 10 marks for timely delivery.
• Public Grievances/Litigation/Others – 5-6 marks each for responsiveness.
• Negative Marks – Up to -12 for excessive foreign travel or delayed MSME payments.
• Rationale – Reflects PM Modi’s push to cut bureaucratic delays.
• Risk – May prioritize speed over quality and raise fairness concerns across ministries.

International Relations and Issues

Japan’s 1^st Woman Leader

• Leader – Sanae Takaichi, Japan’s first female Prime Minister.
• Election outcome – Ruling coalition (LDP + Japan Innovation Party) projected to secure a supermajority of over 350 seats; LDP alone may win 328.
• Reason for snap election – Called to leverage her high approval ratings.
• Policy stance – Strongly nationalistic, prioritizing defence and security.
• Economic proposal – Suggested suspending the 8% sales tax on food, raising funding concerns in financial markets.
• Support base – Enjoys significant backing from younger voters.