APPSC Daily Current Affairs - 10th February 2026
Relevance:
Prelims: Population policy, demographic transition, ageing population, nutrition schemes, public health initiatives.
GS Paper II – Government policies & interventions, health, welfare schemes
Important Keywords
For Prelims:
- Population Management Policy, Ageing Society, Demographic Dividend, Mid-Day Meal Scheme, Anganwadi Centres, Sanjeevani Project, People-Public-Private-Partnership (P4), Per Capita Income, Araku Coffee, Cocoa City
For Mains:
- Strategic Autonomy, Multi-Alignment in Foreign Policy, Energy Security and Diversification, Defence Indigenisation, Geopolitical Balancing, Economic Statecraft, Russia–China Nexus, Supply Chain Resilience, Weaponisation of Trade and Tariffs, Technology-Led Growth, Indo-Pacific Geopolitics, Global Value Chains, Global South Leadership
Why in News?
- The Chief Minister of N. Chandrababu Naidu announced that Andhra Pradesh will introduce a Population Management Policy soon.
- The announcement was made during a review meeting with ministers and secretaries at the Secretariat in Vijayawada.
- The policy aims to address demographic transition, ageing population concerns, maternal health, nutrition, and economic productivity.
Key Objectives of the Policy
- Address the aging population challenge, noting that many European countries are facing demographic stress due to a rising elderly population.
- Change the mindset that people cannot work after the age of 60.
- Encourage a healthy demographic structure for long-term economic growth.
Health and Nutrition Initiatives
Nutritional Support
- Prepare an action plan to provide nutritious food:
- Students under the Mid-Day Meal Scheme
- Children at Anganwadi Centres
- Beneficiaries of Anna Canteens
- Emphasis on leafy vegetables and nutritional supplements.
Maternal and Child Health
- Promote normal deliveries and reduce unnecessary C-section births.
- Improve maternal nutrition through supplements.
Sanjeevani Project Targets
- Health screening for:
- 66 lakh high-risk individuals
- 5 lakh hostel students by July.
- Prepare health profiles of 70 lakh students up to Class XII.
Disease Control Goal
- Target to make Andhra Pradesh HIV/AIDS-free by 2027.
Education and Student Welfare
- Develop a 100-day action plan to improve Class X exam results.
- Reduce exam pressure and prevent student suicides.
- Ensure a supportive academic environment.
Governance and Implementation
- Ministers and secretaries instructed to:
- Conduct field visits.
- Monitor policy implementation at the micro level.
- Emphasis: Good policies succeed only with efficient implementation.
Economic Growth Targets
- Aim to double GSDP and per capita income every five years.
- Per capita income viewed as a key indicator of living standards.
P4 Scheme (People-Public-Private-Partnership)
- Designed to reduce economic inequalities.
- Increase participation of:
- Margadarsis
- Bangaru Mitras
- Objective: help the poor overcome financial hardships.
Financial Management
- CM criticized the previous YSR Congress Party government for financial mismanagement (2019–2024).
- State currently paying 14% interest on past loans.
- Government working to:
- Reschedule loans
- Improve credit rating
- Salaries are now being paid on time.
- Implementation of promised Super Six schemes underway.
Agriculture and Regional Development
- Explore cultivation of Kumkuma Puvvu (saffron) in Lambasingi (traditionally grown in Kashmir).
- Plan to establish India’s first Cocoa City near Eluru.
- Expand coffee cultivation and promote the Araku Coffee brand.
Infrastructure and Environmental Measures
- Prepare action plan under the ‘GRAM G’ scheme.
- Prevent groundwater pollution from industrial effluents.
- Ensure supply of safe drinking water to:
- Educational institutions
- Hostels
- General public
Hostel Safety Concern
- Students falling sick at a hostel in Devarapalli triggered concern.
- CM warned that district officials would be held accountable if such incidents recur.
Governance Philosophy Highlighted by CM
- Officials must regularly interact with citizens to identify problems.
- Strong focus on:
- Administrative discipline
- Financial responsibility
- Effective service deliver
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements:
- Andhra Pradesh plans to introduce a population management policy to address ageing population concerns.
- The Sanjeevani project includes preparation of health profiles for school students.
- The P4 model refers to a Public-Private-Partnership exclusively for infrastructure development.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
A. 1 and 2 only
B. 2 only
C. 1 and 3 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation
- Statement 1 – Correct: Policy aims to prevent demographic imbalance and future labour shortages.
- Statement 2 – Correct: Health profiles of 70 lakh students are planned.
- Statement 3 – Incorrect: P4 stands for People-Public-Private-Partnership, focused on reducing inequality — not just infrastructure.
Relevance:
GS Paper II (International Relations)
Important Keywords
For Prelims:
- India–US Trade, India–Russia Relations, Russian Oil Imports, Ukraine War, Sanctions Regime, Trade Surplus, Trade Deficit, Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), Indo-Pacific Strategy, Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR), Atmanirbhar Bharat, Quad, BRICS, China+1 Strategy, Current Account Deficit (CAD)
For Mains:
- Strategic Autonomy, Multi-Alignment in Foreign Policy, Energy Security and Diversification, Defence Indigenisation, Geopolitical Balancing, Economic Statecraft, Russia–China Nexus, Supply Chain Resilience, Weaponisation of Trade and Tariffs, Technology-Led Growth, Indo-Pacific Geopolitics, Global Value Chains, Global South Leadership
Why in News?
US President Donald Trump’s claim that India has “agreed to stop buying Russian oil” under the India–US trade understanding has placed New Delhi in a diplomatically sensitive position. India must now balance its long-standing strategic partnership with Russia against increasing economic, trade, and geopolitical pressure from the United States, particularly in the context of the Ukraine war and Indo-Pacific realignments.
Evolution of India–Russia Strategic Partnership: From Cold War Alignment to Contemporary Geopolitics
Cold War Convergence (1950–1991)
- The Soviet Union consistently backed India on core sovereignty issues, including Kashmir and Goa.
- Moscow stayed neutral during the 1962 Sino-Indian war and brokered the Tashkent Agreement (1965) after the India–Pakistan conflict.
- Amid the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War and a US–Pakistan–China alignment, India signed the Treaty of Peace, Friendship and Cooperation with the USSR, which functioned as a de facto security assurance against external intervention.
- The USSR emerged as India’s principal defence supplier (about 70% of equipment) and a major economic partner via the rupee–rouble trade mechanism.
Post-Soviet Recalibration (1991–1999)
- The USSR’s dissolution coincided with India’s balance-of-payments crisis.
- Russia pivoted towards Western integration and phased out concessional arms pricing.
- India undertook LPG reforms and broadened strategic engagement with the US and Israel, marking a period of relative drift in ties.
Consolidation as a Strategic Partnership (2000–2021)
- The 2000 Declaration on Strategic Partnership institutionalised cooperation, upgraded in 2010 to a Special and Privileged Strategic Partnership.
- Collaboration expanded from arms purchases to co-development (e.g., BrahMos missile) and energy investments (notably Sakhalin).
- The Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant became a flagship of civil nuclear cooperation, with Russia then the only country constructing reactors in India.
Economic Engagement (Recent Years)
- Bilateral trade reached USD 68.7 billion in FY 2024–25, driven largely by Indian energy imports and skewed in Russia’s favour.
- Targets include USD 100 billion trade by 2030 and USD 50 billion in mutual investments by 2025.
- India exports pharmaceuticals, chemicals, iron & steel, marine products; imports include crude oil, petroleum products, fertilisers, coking coal, sunflower oil, and precious metals.
Defence as the Bedrock
- Defence cooperation remains central, anchored by the 2021–2031 military-technical cooperation agreement.
- Joint exercises such as INDRA and Zapad-2025 enhance operational interoperability.
Impact of the Ukraine War
- Western sanctions led India to source discounted Russian oil, sharply increasing its share in India’s imports and pushing trade to record highs.
- The US contends these purchases indirectly support the war and imposed punitive tariffs, later eased with monitoring and snap-back provisions.
- Washington now seeks to displace Russia as a key supplier by promoting US crude, LNG, and alternatives like Venezuelan oil.
Strategic Significance of India–US Trade vis-à-vis India–Russia Trade
Scale and Structure of Trade
- India–US Trade
- The United States is India’s largest trading partner, with total trade of about USD 128 billion.
- India runs a trade surplus with the US, led by high-value merchandise exports and a strong services sector.
- As a major source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), the US supports India’s startups, technology ecosystem, and infrastructure, generating a long-term wealth-multiplier effect.
- Through the Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), bilateral engagement is shifting from commodity trade to cooperation in advanced technologies, defence innovation, semiconductors, and space—key to India’s Viksit Bharat @2047 vision.
India–Russia Trade
-
-
- Bilateral trade stood at USD 68.72 billion in 2024–25, but is sharply imbalanced.
- India’s imports (USD 63.84 billion), largely crude oil and energy products, far exceed exports (USD 4.88 billion).
- The relationship remains largely transactional, centred on commodities (oil, fertilisers) and legacy defence spares, with limited spillovers into India’s broader civilian economy.
-
Geopolitical and Strategic Implications
-
- Advantages of the US Economic Partnership
- Deeper trade and investment ties with the US complement India’s Indo-Pacific strategy.
- Economic interdependence functions as an implicit security buffer, increasing US stakes in India’s stability amid China’s assertiveness.
- With global firms adopting a “China + 1” strategy, the US is critical for integrating India into resilient global value chains.
- Strategic Constraints of the Russia Relationship
- Western sanctions have pushed Russia into growing economic dependence on China.
- Excessive reliance on Russia risks indirectly exposing Indian supply chains to Chinese leverage and coercion.
- Advantages of the US Economic Partnership
Energy Security Dimension
-
- The US tariff threat underscored Washington’s willingness to weaponise market access.
- This has nudged India to diversify energy sourcing by increasing purchases from the US and Venezuela, even at higher costs, to reduce overdependence on Russian oil and strengthen long-term energy resilience
Challenges for India in the India–US–Russia Strategic Triangle
Russia–China Convergence
- A sanctions-hit Russia is becoming increasingly dependent on China, reducing its strategic autonomy.
- This weakens Moscow’s ability or willingness to back India in forums like the UNSC or remain neutral during a Sino-Indian crisis.
Defence Dependence and Security Risks
- Nearly 60% of India’s military platforms (Su-30 MKI, T-90 tanks, S-400 systems) are of Russian origin.
- As India deepens ties with the US, Russia may slow or deprioritise supply of critical spares, upgrades, and maintenance.
- Russia has historically shared sensitive technologies (e.g., nuclear submarines, hypersonic systems) that Western partners deny; alienating Moscow could foreclose this channel.
- Rapid diversification away from Russian equipment is strategically essential but operationally difficult due to higher costs, restrictive end-use conditions, and the need for new training and doctrines—posing short-term readiness risks, especially along sensitive borders.
Economic and Energy Constraints
- Discounted Russian crude helped contain inflation; alternatives like US or Venezuelan oil are costlier.
- Higher freight costs from the Americas raise the landed price of crude compared to Russia or the Middle East.
- Indian refineries are optimised for medium-sour Urals crude; shifting to light-sweet or heavy grades requires technical recalibration, downtime, and efficiency losses.
- Increased import costs could push up fuel prices, fuel inflation, and widen the Current Account Deficit (CAD).
Credibility as Global South Leader
- India’s Global South leadership is anchored in sovereignty, strategic autonomy, and development-centric diplomacy.
- Prolonged ambiguity or perceived alignment in great-power rivalries risks diluting India’s normative influence and moral authority on global platform
Policy Options for Balancing Competing Partnerships
- Accelerated Defence Indigenisation
Under Atmanirbhar Bharat, India should localise production of spares and ammunition for Russian-origin platforms while progressively sourcing advanced systems from the US, France, and Israel. The goal should be to reduce Russian dependence to below 30% over the next decade. - Energy Diversification through a Portfolio Approach
India must diversify crude sourcing across West Africa, Iraq, the Americas, and the Middle East, while expanding Strategic Petroleum Reserves to buffer against supply disruptions. - Economic Risk Insulation
Expanding FTAs (notably with the EU), strengthening rupee-based trade mechanisms, and building domestic capacity in APIs, green energy, and critical manufacturing can reduce exposure to external economic coercion. - Leveraging Multilateral Platforms
India should use Quad cooperation to balance China in the maritime domain, while engaging BRICS to retain leverage with Russia and prevent excessive China–Russia convergence.
Conclusion
India’s strategic calculus demands simultaneous engagement, not exclusive alignment. The US is indispensable for India’s growth, technology access, and global economic integration, while Russia remains critical for defence stability and affordable energy during the transition phase. Managing this balance through diversification, indigenisation, and calibrated diplomacy will define India’s external strategy in an increasingly fragmented world order.
UPSC PYQ
Q. Recently, India signed a deal known as “Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field” with which of the following countries?
- Japan
- Russia
- The United Kingdom
- The United States of America
- The Action Plan for Prioritization and Implementation of Cooperation Areas in the Nuclear Field was jointly identified and signed by India and Russia.
- It was signed by Alexey Likhachev, Director General of Rosatom (Russia), and K. N. Vyas, Secretary, Department of Atomic Energy, Government of India.
- The agreement strengthens civil nuclear cooperation, especially in areas such as reactor construction, fuel supply, safety, and technology collaboration.
- Russia has been a long-standing partner in India’s nuclear energy programme, notably through the Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant in Tamil Nadu.
CARE MCQ
Q. With reference to India–Russia defence cooperation, consider the following weapon systems:
- BrahMos Missile – jointly developed by India’s DRDO and Russia’s NPO Mashinostroyeniya.
- Sukhoi Su-30MKI – licensed production carried out in India by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited.
- S-400 Triumf – jointly developed and co-produced in India under the “Make in India” initiative.
- AK-203 Assault Rifles – manufactured in India through an Indo-Russian joint venture.
Which of the above are correctly matched?
- 1, 2 and 4 only
- 1 and 3 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: A
Explanation
- Statement 1 – Correct
BrahMos is a flagship joint R&D project between DRDO (India) and NPO Mashinostroyeniya (Russia). - Statement 2 – Correct
Sukhoi Su-30MKI is produced in India by HAL under licence. - Statement 3 – Incorrect
S-400 Triumf is procured from Russia; it is not jointly produced in India. - Statement 4 – Correct
AK-203 rifles are manufactured in India by Indo-Russia Rifles Pvt. Ltd. under Make in India.
Relevance:
Prelims: International relations, groupings, agreements, defence exercises, Indo-Pacific.
GS Paper II: Bilateral relations, Act East Policy, ASEAN, Indo-Pacific, multilateral cooperation.
Important Keywords
For Prelims:
- Harimau Shakti Exercise, ADMM-Plus, International Solar Alliance (ISA), Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP), UNCLOS 1982, International Big Cat Alliance (IBCA)
For Mains:
- Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP), Malaysia–India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA), ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA), Malaysia–India Digital Council (MIDC)
Why in News?
- At the invitation of Prime Minister of Malaysia, His Excellency, Dato’ Seri Anwar Ibrahim, His Excellency, Shri Narendra Modi, Prime Minister of the Republic of India, undertook an official visit to Malaysia from 7 to 8 February 2026.
- The visit reaffirmed the India–Malaysia Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP).
- Diplomatic ties date back to 1957, rooted in civilizational links, shared democratic values, and strong people-to-people connections.
- Leaders held wide-ranging discussions covering political, economic, defence, digital, cultural, and global issues.
- Several bilateral agreements and institutional cooperation documents were exchanged.
Background
- Diplomatic relations established: 1957
- Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: August 2024
- Relationship rooted in civilisational links, shared democratic values, and a large Indian diaspora in Malaysia.
Political Cooperation
- Emphasis on regular high-level visits and sustained diplomatic engagement.
- Foreign Office Consultations (FOC) and Joint Commission Meetings (JCM) identified as key dialogue mechanisms.
- Encouraged stronger parliamentary exchanges to deepen institutional ties.
- Noted recent parliamentary visits between both countries.
Trade and Investment
- Recognised India as a major global economic partner.
- Agreed to enhance trade facilitation and expand cooperation in:
- Semiconductors
- Digital economy
- Industrial collaboration
- Highlighted importance of:
- Malaysia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (MICECA)
- ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA) — currently under review.
- Promoted investments in priority sectors:
- Infrastructure
- Renewable energy
- Advanced manufacturing
- Healthcare
- Artificial Intelligence
- Fintech and startups
- Green technologies
- Welcomed the 10th India–Malaysia CEO Forum (Kuala Lumpur).
- Encouraged local currency settlement using Indian Rupee and Malaysian Ringgit.
- Agreed to strengthen air and maritime connectivity.
Food Security and Agriculture
- Commitment to resilient and sustainable food supply chains.
- Malaysia reaffirmed its role as a reliable supplier of sustainable palm oil.
- Agreed on:
- Collaboration in oil palm cultivation
- Development of palm oil value chains
- Timely resolution of market-access issues.
Digital and Financial Cooperation
- Formalised the Malaysia–India Digital Council (MIDC) to advance cooperation in:
- Fintech
- Cybersecurity
- Artificial Intelligence
- Digital Public Infrastructure
- Emerging technologies
- Welcomed payment linkage between NPCI International and PayNet Malaysia for:
- Low-cost remittances
- Seamless digital payments
- Improved business and tourism transactions.
Energy and Semiconductor Cooperation
- Acknowledged Malaysian firms’ role in India’s renewable energy and green hydrogen sectors.
- Identified strong potential in large-scale solar projects.
- Reiterated support for the International Solar Alliance.
Semiconductors:
- Agreed to strengthen the semiconductor value chain through:
- Technological innovation
- Workforce development
- Supply chain resilience
- Welcomed partnerships between academic and industry bodies of both countries.
Defence and Security
- Noted a robust defence partnership involving exercises, training, and industry collaboration.
- Welcomed outcomes of the Malaysia-India Defence Cooperation Committee.
- India and Malaysia to co-chair the Counter-Terrorism Working Group (2024–2027) under ADMM-Plus.
Military Engagements:
- Conducted joint exercise Harimau Shakti (Dec 2025).
- Expanded maritime cooperation through naval visits and exercises such as:
- Samudra Laksamana
- MILAN
- ASEAN-India Maritime Exercise
Counter-terrorism:
- Strong condemnation of terrorism, including cross-border terrorism.
- Commitment to:
- Counter radicalisation
- Prevent terror financing
- Stop misuse of emerging technologies
- Cooperation to continue at forums like the United Nations and Financial Action Task Force.
Education and Skill Development
- Encouraged student and faculty exchanges under:
- ITEC
- Malaysia Technical Cooperation Programme
- Invited Malaysian students to join India’s Study in India initiative.
- Strengthened cooperation in Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET).
Culture, Tourism and People-to-People Ties
- Agreed to streamline mobility of professionals and workers.
- Tourism recognised as a key pillar of bilateral relations.
Initiatives:
- Visit Malaysia 2026 campaign.
- Incredible India campaign.
- Visa liberalisation to boost travel.
- Welcomed establishment of the Thiruvalluvar Chair and Centre at Universiti Malaya and announced scholarships for Malaysian students.
- Agreed to further enhance civil aviation cooperation.
Healthcare Cooperation
- Reaffirmed partnership in:
- Affordable healthcare
- Traditional medicine
- Drug regulation
- Nursing services
- Progress toward deploying Traditional Indian Medicine experts in Malaysia.
- Noted MoU between India’s Central Council for Research in Homeopathy and the University of Cyberjaya.
Sustainable Development and Disaster Management
- Commitment to biodiversity conservation through the International Big Cat Alliance.
- Agreed to strengthen disaster cooperation via training, joint exercises, and knowledge sharing under NDMA-level MoU.
- Recognised the role of the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure in global resilience.
Regional and Multilateral Cooperation
- Emphasised peaceful dispute resolution and respect for international law, including UNCLOS 1982.
- Malaysia welcomed India’s BRICS Chairmanship (2026) and supported India’s bid for permanent membership in a reformed UN Security Council.
- Reaffirmed commitment to:
- ASEAN unity and centrality
- A free, open, rules-based Indo-Pacific
- Alignment between ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific and India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
Major Agreements and Outcomes
- MoUs signed on:
- Combating corruption
- Disaster management
- Social security for Indian citizens in Malaysia
- Audio-visual co-production
- Exchanges of notes on cooperation in:
- Semiconductors
- Healthcare
- National security
- Vocational training
- Renewal of UN Peacekeeping cooperation MoU noted.
Conclusion
- Prime Minister Modi thanked Malaysia for its warm hospitality and invited Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim to visit India soon.
- The visit marked a significant step toward deepening strategic, economic, and regional cooperation.
CARE MCQ
Q. Consider the following statements regarding India–Malaysia relations:
- The Malaysia–India Digital Council aims to promote cooperation in fintech, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
- Harimau Shakti is a joint naval exercise conducted by India and Malaysia.
- Both countries encouraged settlement of bilateral trade in local currencies.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
A. 1 and 3 only
B. 2 and 3 only
C. 1 only
D. 1, 2 and 3
Answer: A
Explanation:
- Statement 1 – Correct. The Malaysia–India Digital Council aims to promote cooperation in fintech, artificial intelligence and cybersecurity.
- Statement 2 – Incorrect (Harimau Shakti is a joint Army exercise, not naval).
- Statement 3 – Correct. Both countries encouraged settlement of bilateral trade in local currencies.