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Current affairs · UPSC explainers · 25 Oct 2026

UPSC issue explainers — 25 Oct 2026

Up to two explainers on days that have them, each built from one official release (PIB) — not every day has one.

The day's one-line facts: current affairs, 25 Oct 2026 (where that day has them).

GS-3Environment and ecology25 Oct 2026

Ramsar sites: India now has 103 wetlands of international importance

A PIB backgrounder says India's list of Ramsar sites has grown from 26 in 2014 to 103, covering over 13.87 lakh hectares across 28 States and Union Territories. By number of sites, it places India first in Asia and third in the world.

Background

  • The Ramsar Convention was adopted at Ramsar, Iran, on 2 February 1971 and came into force in 1975; India became a Party on 1 February 1982.
  • The backgrounder gives the Convention's size as 172 Contracting Parties and over 2,536 Ramsar sites worldwide (as on October 2026).
  • Its three pillars: wise use of all wetlands, designation and management of Ramsar sites, and international cooperation.
  • A wetland must meet at least one of nine criteria; for example, regularly supporting 20,000 or more waterbirds (Criterion 5).
  • In India the State or UT identifies the wetland, and the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change forwards the proposal to the Ramsar Secretariat. The domestic legal base is the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017.

Why it matters for the exam

  • Prelims staple: dates of the Convention, India's joining date, the criteria and the count of sites change slowly and are asked often.
  • Mains angle: designation is not protection. A listed wetland still needs a management plan, a catchment that is not encroached and local participation.
  • Link with disaster management: wetlands buffer floods and recharge groundwater, which ties this topic to urban flooding questions.

For Prelims revision

  • India's Ramsar sites: 103 (from 26 in 2014), over 13.87 lakh hectares, 28 States/UTs.
  • Ramsar Convention: adopted 2 February 1971 at Ramsar, Iran; in force 1975; India a Party since 1 February 1982.
  • Nine criteria; Criterion 5 = regularly supports 20,000 or more waterbirds.

Mains practice

The number of Ramsar sites in India has grown quickly. Does designation alone protect a wetland? Discuss with reference to the Wetlands (Conservation and Management) Rules, 2017. (Practice question by Shishya, 250 words)

Syllabus line (General Studies-III): “Conservation, environmental pollution and degradation, environmental impact assessment.” — UPSC CSE 2026 notice, read 27 Oct 2026.

Source: PIB Backgrounder — Ramsar Sites in India (25 Oct 2026) (read 27 Oct 2026)

Made by Shishya (AI-assisted), checked against the PIB release. No newspaper text is used.

GS-2International relations25 Oct 2026

12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum in New Delhi: parliamentary diplomacy

India's Parliament is hosting the 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum from 26 October 2026. Before it opened, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla met the Russian delegation led by Vyacheslav Volodin, Chairman of the State Duma.

Background

  • The meeting took place in the context of India's BRICS Presidency in 2026, according to the Lok Sabha Secretariat's release.
  • The two sides spoke about cooperation against terrorism, reform of the United Nations Security Council and India's case for permanent membership, which Russia supports.
  • The release notes that India and Russia will complete 80 years of diplomatic relations in 2027.
  • The Speaker proposed regular meetings of the India-Russia Inter-Parliamentary Commission and exchanges of young and women parliamentarians.

Why it matters for the exam

  • Parliamentary diplomacy is a track separate from the executive's: legislatures meet as legislatures, which keeps contact going even when governments disagree.
  • For GS2, BRICS can be studied at three levels: summits of leaders, ministerial tracks and forums like this one of parliaments.
  • UNSC reform comes up in almost every bilateral meeting India holds; note who supports India's permanent membership and in which forum it was said.

For Prelims revision

  • 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum: hosted by the Parliament of India, opening 26 October 2026.
  • India-Russia diplomatic relations complete 80 years in 2027.

Mains practice

What is parliamentary diplomacy? How can forums of legislators add to India's goals in groupings such as BRICS? (Practice question by Shishya, 150 words)

Syllabus line (General Studies-II): “Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India and/or affecting India's interests.” — UPSC CSE 2026 notice, read 27 Oct 2026.

Source: PIB — 12th BRICS Parliamentary Forum to be inaugurated tomorrow (Lok Sabha Secretariat, 25 Oct 2026) (read 27 Oct 2026)

Made by Shishya (AI-assisted), checked against the PIB release. No newspaper text is used.