UPSC Daily Current Affairs – 3rd February 2026

UPSC Daily Current Affairs - 3rd February 2026

News at a Glance

Saving India’s Wetlands: Tradition, Ecology and Governance

Source: The Hindu

Relevance:
GS Paper III: Environment, Conservation, Water Security, Disaster Management, Climate Change.

Important Keywords

For Prelims:

World Wetlands Day 2026, Theme: Wetlands and traditional knowledge, Ramsar Sites (98), MISHTI Scheme, Amrit Dharohar, Wetland City Accreditation (WCA), Montreux Record, Central Asian Flyway (CAF), Wetland Mitras.

For Mains:

Ecological functionality vs. Beautification, Watershed-scale governance, Blue Carbon Sinks, Nature-based Solutions (NbS), Sponge City framework, Hydro-social fabric, Wise-use principle, Ground Truthing.

Why in News?

On 2 February 2026, the world observed World Wetlands Day 2026 under the theme “Wetlands and traditional knowledge: Celebrating cultural heritage”. For India, this theme is deeply resonant. Across regions and centuries, communities have evolved livelihood systems around wetlands that balanced ecology and economy, embedding conservation within culture. However, despite strong policy frameworks and international commitments, wetlands remain among India’s most threatened ecosystems, demanding urgent, coordinated, and people-centric action.

Reflecting growing policy recognition, India expanded its Ramsar sites from 26 in 2014 to 98 in 2026, covering 1,384,140 hectares, the highest in Asia, signalling a shift towards sustainability-oriented and community-integrated wetland governance.

India’s Civilisational Bond with Wetlands

Traditional Knowledge and Community Stewardship

Wetlands in India are not isolated ecosystems but part of lived cultural landscapes
Tamil Nadu: Ancient tank (kulam) systems formed cascading irrigation networks supporting paddy cultivation and groundwater recharge
Wayanad (Kerala): Shallow wells called kenis, built over 200 years ago, supply drinking water and support rituals and festivals
Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh): Wetlands sustain traditional fishing practices and seasonal livelihoods
Across India, wetlands function simultaneously as:
- Ecological systems
- Economic assets
- Cultural heritage sites
- Social wellbeing anchors

Insight: Traditional practices inherently safeguarded wetlands through collective ownership, seasonal use, and respect for hydrological rhythms.

Why Wetlands Matter for India

1. Water Security and Flood Regulation

Wetlands act as natural sponges:
- Absorb excess rainfall
- Release water gradually during dry periods
Recharge aquifers and stabilise urban water supply
Critical under climate-induced erratic rainfall
Example: Bhoj Wetlands (Bhopal) buffer monsoon floods and supply drinking water

2. Climate Action and Carbon Sequestration

Mangroves and peatlands are powerful blue carbon sinks
Sequester carbon 10–50 times faster than terrestrial forests
Support India’s NDCs and net-zero target (2070)
Example: MISHTI Scheme targets restoration of 540 sq km of mangroves, with ~4.5 million tonnes sequestration potential

3. Livelihoods and Economic Value

Support fisheries, wetland agriculture (makhana, rice), grazing, eco-tourism
Provide livelihoods to millions of marginalised communities
Amrit Dharohar Scheme (2023) links conservation with green jobs
Data: Kole Wetlands (Kerala) valued at USD 54 million annually from paddy and flood control

4. Pollution Control and Wastewater Treatment

Wetlands act as “nature’s kidneys”:
- Filter nutrients, heavy metals, sediments
- Reduce biochemical oxygen demand (BOD)
Example: East Kolkata Wetlands save ₹4,680 million per year by naturally treating sewage

5. Biodiversity and Migratory Corridors

Wetlands are biodiversity hotspots and ecological indicators
India lies on the Central Asian Flyway (CAF)
Support millions of migratory birds
Examples: Pallikaranai, Pulicat Lake, Keoladeo, Khijadia, Hokersar

6. Coastal Defence and Disaster Risk Reduction

Mangroves, lagoons and mudflats act as bio-shields
Reduce cyclone impact, storm surges, shoreline erosion
Example: Bhitarkanika mangroves reduced damage during Cyclone Dana (2024)

7. Groundwater Recharge and Agrarian Sustainability

Act as percolation zones sustaining groundwater-dependent agriculture
Prevent soil salinisation and desertification
Example: Kole Wetlands—below sea level, highly productive rice ecosystem

8. Geo-Strategic and National Security Significance

High-altitude wetlands regulate glacial meltwater
Reduce risk of Glacial Lake Outburst Floods (GLOFs)
Support military logistics near sensitive border areas
Example: Tso Kar Wetland Complex (Ladakh) designated as Ramsar site to secure freshwater resources

9. Cultural Heritage and Community Stewardship

Wetlands embedded in India’s hydro-social and religious traditions
Sacred status promotes community-led protection and voluntary labour (Shramdaan)
Higher success rate than purely bureaucratic conservation
Examples:
- Renuka Lake (Himachal Pradesh) protected through religious norms
- Mission Amrit Sarovar rejuvenated 68,000+ water bodies by January 2025

Measures Taken for Wetland Conservation in India

1. Amrit Dharohar Scheme – Livelihood Integration

Converts wetlands into high-value ecological assets
Promotes low-impact nature tourism
First-phase priority sites: Sultanpur, Sirpur, Yashwant Sagar, Bhitarkanika, Chilika
Training programmes:
- Alternative Livelihood Programme (ALP)
- Paryatan Navik Certificate (PNC)

2. Wetland City Accreditation (WCA)

Based on the Ramsar Convention
Integrates wetlands into urban master plans as flood buffers
Forces alignment of zoning laws with wetland protection
Examples: Indore and Udaipur became India’s first WCA cities (January 2025)

3. Mission Sahbhagita and Wetland Mitras

Citizen-science and community monitoring approach
Creates a decentralised vigilance system against encroachment and pollution
Achievements:
- 2 million people sensitised
- 80,000 wetlands surveyed
- 6,200 wetland health cards prepared
- 18,000 Wetland Mitras registered

4. Green Credit Programme (GCP)

Market-based financing mechanism for wetland restoration
Corporates earn tradable credits for ecological rejuvenation
Reduces fiscal burden on the government
Since 2023: Credits allowed for mangrove restoration

5. Wetland Health Cards and Geospatial Monitoring

Integrate ISRO satellite data with field indicators
Monitor turbidity, dissolved oxygen, and ecological stress
Enable early warning and preventive action
Shift governance from reactive to proactive management

6. Expansion of Ramsar Network

Strategic internationalisation of wetland protection
Invokes treaty obligations and global scrutiny
Status: 98 Ramsar sites (2026), highest in Asia

7. Legal Ground-Truthing of Small Wetlands

Supreme Court mandated physical verification
Addresses neglect of wetlands below 2.25 hectares
Extends Public Trust Doctrine to village ponds
Outcome:
- 170,000 wetlands ground-truthed
- 100,000 wetlands boundary-demarcated

8. Revised NPCA Guidelines

Shift from water-body centric to catchment-scale management
Mandatory Framework Management Plans
Focus on controlling siltation and pollution at source

Challenges in Wetland Conservation

1. Urban Encroachment and “Concrete Creep”
- Wetlands classified as “wastelands” in revenue records
- Conversion into real estate reduces flood buffering
- Example: Pallikaranai marsh (Chennai) shrunk by 90% in 30 years
2. Pollution and Eutrophication
- Unchecked sewage and industrial effluents
- Causes oxygen depletion and dead zones
- Example: Migratory bird numbers at Harike declined by 12% (2021–2023)
3. Weak Governance and Legal Gaps
- Fragmented institutional responsibility
- Delays in notification by State Wetland Authorities
- SC Intervention (2017): ₹50,000 penalty for failure to prepare inventories
4. Siltation and Hydrological Disruption
- Dams and canals cut off natural flows
- Leads to terrestrialisation of wetlands
- Example: Wular Lake losing water-holding capacity
5. Invasive Alien Species
- Water hyacinth, African catfish displace native species
- Block sunlight and degrade habitat
- Threaten wetlands covering 58.2 million hectares
6. Climate Change Impacts
- Drying of seasonal wetlands
- Phenological mismatch for migratory birds
- Data: India has lost nearly one-third of its wetlands in three decades
7. Microplastics and Chemical Pollution
- Accumulation of endocrine-disrupting chemicals
- Bioaccumulation through food chains
- Risks to human health and livelihoods
8. Livelihood–Conservation Conflict
- Top-down protection ignores traditional usufruct rights
- Resistance from local communities
- Example: Protests at Deepor Beel (Assam), 2021

Measures Needed

Catchment-scale “source-to-sink” treatment and afforestation
Full operationalisation of Green Credit Programme
Adoption of constructed wetlands for sewage treatment
Strict ground-truthing and geo-tagging of all wetlands
Integration of sponge-city principles in urban planning
Agro-ecological buffer zones around wetlands
Scientific removal and utilisation of invasive species
Equitable benefit-sharing and community participation

Conclusion

Wetlands are not ecological luxuries but critical natural infrastructure that underpins India’s water security, climate resilience, biodiversity, and livelihoods. Their degradation transforms climate risks into developmental disasters such as floods, food insecurity, and livelihood loss. A decisive shift towards community-led, science-based, and catchment-scale governance—anchored in Mission LiFE—is essential. Protecting wetlands today is an investment in sustainable development, disaster resilience, and intergenerational equity.

UPSC PYQ

Q. Consider the following statements: (2019)

Under Ramsar Convention, it is mandatory on the part of the Government of India to protect and conserve all the wetlands in the territory of India.
The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 were framed by the Government of India based on the recommendations of Ramsar Convention.
The Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2010 also encompass the drainage area or catchment regions of the wetlands as determined by the authority.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 and 2 only

(b) 2 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Ans: (c)

Q. With reference to a conservation organization called ‘Wetlands International’, which of the following statements is/are correct? (2014)

It is an intergovernmental organization formed by the countries which are signatories to Ramsar Convention.
It works at the field level to develop and mobilize knowledge, and use the practical experience to advocate for better policies.

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Ans: (b)

CARE MCQ

Q. Which of the following factors most directly disrupt the hydrological functioning of wetlands?

Channelisation of rivers
Groundwater over-extraction
Sand mining
Construction of embankments

Select the correct answer using the code given below:

A. 1 and 2 only

B. 2 and 3 only

C. 1, 2, 3 and 4

D. 1, 3 and 4 only

Answer: C

Explanation:

All listed activities alter natural flow regimes, sediment transport, and water availability, leading to degradation of wetland ecosystems.

What Is the Next Phase for Rural Women Entrepreneurship?

Source: The Hindu

Relevance:
GS Paper II (Governance, Social Justice)

Important Keywords

For Prelims:

DAY-NRLM, Self-Help Groups (SHGs), Cluster Level Federations (CLFs), Village Organisations (VOs),Lakhpati Didi, SHG–Bank Linkage Programme, Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT),Kudumbashree, Jeevika, Village Prosperity and Resilience Plan (VPRP), SIDBI

For Mains:

Rural Women Entrepreneurship, Women-Led Development, Financial Inclusion,

Community-Based Organisations, Institutional Autonomy, Social Audit,Credit Deepening, Innovative Financing, Livelihood Diversification,Market Linkages, Convergence of Schemes, Inclusive Growth, Grassroots Empowerment

Why in News?

The Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana–National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM) is due for re-appraisal for the next financial cycle (2026–27 to 2030–31). With over 10 crore rural households, 91 lakh Self-Help Groups, and 2 crore Lakhpati Didis, the programme has reached a scale where the focus is shifting from mobilisation to enterprise expansion, institutional autonomy, innovative financing, and market integration, making the next phase critical for rural women entrepreneurship.

Scale and Achievements of DAY-NRLM

DAY-NRLM has organised rural women into:

91 lakh SHGs
5.35 lakh Village Organisations (VOs)
33,558 Cluster Level Federations (CLFs)

These institutions have collectively leveraged over ₹11 lakh crore in bank credit, with NPAs at a low 1.7%, reflecting strong financial discipline. Importantly, the number of ‘Lakhpati Didis’—women earning over ₹1 lakh annually—has crossed two crore, indicating a shift from subsistence to income-generating activities.

Political and Social Empowerment of Rural Women

Beyond economic outcomes, SHGs have enhanced women’s political visibility and bargaining power. States are increasingly routing unattached Direct Benefit Transfers (DBTs) directly to women, such as:

Ladli Laxmi Yojana (Madhya Pradesh)
Maiya Samman Yojana (Jharkhand)
Ladki Bahin Yojana (Maharashtra)
Mukhyamantri Mahila Rozgar Yojana (Bihar)

These initiatives strengthen women’s control over financial resources and can act as catalysts for entrepreneurship in the next phase of DAY-NRLM.

Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NRLM)

Flagship poverty alleviation programme of the Ministry of Rural Development
Aim: Reduce rural poverty through self-employment, skilled wage employment and sustainable livelihoods
Implemented as a centrally sponsored scheme (Centre–State funding)
Launched: 2010 (as NRLM) by restructuring SGSY
Renamed: 2016 as DAY-NRLM
One of the world’s largest livelihood missions

Core Objectives

Mobilise rural poor households into Self-Help Groups (SHGs)
Enable access to formal credit, livelihoods and entitlements
Promote women-led institutions and community ownership
Ensure sustained income enhancement to move households out of poverty

Four Core Components

Social Mobilisation & Institution Building
- SHGs → Village Organisations (VOs) → Cluster Level Federations (CLFs)
Financial Inclusion
- SHG–Bank linkage, collateral-free loans, interest subvention
Sustainable Livelihoods
- Farm, non-farm and off-farm activities
Social Inclusion & Convergence
- Access to welfare schemes, health, nutrition, sanitation, gender justice

Women Empowerment Architecture

Community Resource Persons (CRPs):

Krishi Sakhi – Sustainable agriculture, extension services
Pashu Sakhi – Livestock health & productivity
Bank Sakhi / BC Sakhi – Financial inclusion, credit linkage
Bima Sakhi – Insurance coverage

47,952 Bank Sakhis deployed nationwide

Strengthening CLFs: The Institutional Pivot

CLFs form the lynchpin of the SHG ecosystem, anchoring programme activities at the sub-block level. However, concerns have emerged that many CLFs have become overly dependent on government functionaries, undermining community ownership.

The next phase must focus on:

Revitalising CLFs as autonomous, community-owned institutions
Reducing administrative overreach
Replicating successful models such as Kudumbashree (Kerala) and Jeevika (Bihar)

Strong CLFs are essential for scaling enterprises, managing funds, and negotiating with markets and banks.

Financial Governance and Use of Idle Funds

Community institutions have received large capitalisation support—about ₹56.69 lakh crore—leading to concerns over idle funds and misuse. To address this:

Social audits and statutory audits must be institutionalised
Transparent community-led monitoring systems should be strengthened
Flexible, need-based savings and loan products should replace uniform lending norms

The goal should be equitable development alongside revenue generation by CLFs.

Credit Deepening and Individual Entrepreneurship

While SHG-bank linkage has expanded credit access, many members find loan sizes inadequate for enterprise expansion. Scaling up requires:

Transition from group loans to individual credit
Creation of individual credit histories and CIBIL scores for SHG members
Greater role for CLFs in facilitating and guaranteeing individual loans

Such measures can enhance bank confidence and unlock higher credit flows for rural women entrepreneurs.

Moving Beyond Debt: Innovative Financing Models

With economic diversification, DAY-NRLM must evolve beyond debt-based financing. Future strategies should explore:

Equity, venture capital, and blended finance
Partnerships with SIDBI, NBFCs, and neo-banks
Customised financial products tailored to rural women’s enterprise needs

This shift is critical for nurturing growth-oriented and scalable enterprises.

Convergence and Coordinated Livelihood Planning

Livelihood interventions under DAY-NRLM often operate in silos. To maximise impact:

Annual State-level Livelihood Action Plans should be prepared
Village Prosperity and Resilience Plans (VPRPs) should guide bottom-up planning
CLFs should evolve into business clinics or livelihood hubs

Institutional convergence with schemes of agriculture, animal husbandry, and food processing departments should be formalised, potentially through a Convergence Cell at NITI Aayog.

Marketing: The Weakest Link

Lack of market access remains the biggest constraint for SHG enterprises. Addressing this requires:

A dedicated marketing vertical under the National Mission
Focus on branding, packaging, pricing, quality, and logistics
Development of CLF-based logistics hubs
Creation of professional, market-facing agencies at State/UT level

Effective marketing is essential to convert production into sustainable incomes.

Human Resources and Institutional Maturity

Given rising expectations from community institutions, deployment of professionals in finance, marketing, and enterprise development is necessary. However, capacity building must respect:

Varied maturity levels of CLFs
The organic pace of community institutions

External support should empower, not overwhelm, grassroots organisations.

Conclusion:

DAY-NRLM has successfully mobilised rural women at an unprecedented scale. The next phase must focus on institutional autonomy, enterprise scaling, innovative finance, convergence, and market integration. If CLFs are strengthened as genuine community-owned business institutions, rural women can transition from beneficiaries to entrepreneurs and market leaders, redefining inclusive growth in India.

UPSC PYQ

Q. How does the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) seek to improve livelihood options of the rural poor? (UPSC CSE 2012)

By setting up a large number of new manufacturing industries and agribusiness centres in rural areas
By strengthening Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and providing skill development
By supplying seeds, fertilizers, diesel pump-sets and micro-irrigation equipment free of cost to farmers

Select the correct answer using the codes given below:

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 only
3. 1 and 3 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Explanation:

Statement 1 – Incorrect

NRLM does not focus on directly setting up manufacturing industries or agribusiness centres. Its approach is community-driven, not infrastructure-led.
Statement 2 – Correct

The core strategy of NRLM is mobilising rural poor into Self-Help Groups (SHGs), building their institutional capacity, enhancing skills, and enabling access to credit, livelihoods, and markets.
Statement 3 – Incorrect

Supplying farm inputs free of cost is not a mandate of NRLM. Such support falls under agriculture input subsidy schemes, not livelihood missions.

CARE MCQ

Q. Consider the following statements regarding Women Empowerment under DAY–NRLM:

DAY–NRLM facilitates large-scale collateral-free credit to women Self-Help Groups through formal banking channels.
Krishi Sakhi and Pashu Sakhi provide last-mile support in agriculture and livestock-based livelihoods.
DAY–NRLM focuses only on farm-based livelihoods and excludes non-farm enterprises.

Which of the statements given above are correct?

1. 1 and 2 only
2. 2 and 3 only
3. 1 only
4. 1, 2 and 3

Answer: A

Explanation:

Statement 1 – Correct

DAY–NRLM has enabled over ₹11 lakh crore in collateral-free institutional credit to women SHGs, supported by Bank Sakhis and Banking Correspondent Sakhis, with repayment rates exceeding 98%, reflecting financial sustainability.
Statement 2 – Correct

Krishi Sakhi (agriculture) and Pashu Sakhi (livestock) act as Community Resource Persons, ensuring last-mile extension services, awareness, and income enhancement for Mahila Kisans.
Statement 3 – Incorrect

DAY–NRLM supports both farm and non-farm livelihoods, including micro-enterprises in handicrafts, food processing, and services through schemes like SVEP.