Introduction

The UPSC Civil Services Preliminary Examination 2026 will test not only factual knowledge but also conceptual clarity, analytical ability, and awareness of current developments. Over the past decade, the trend of the Prelims examination has shifted towards integrating static subjects with current affairs, requiring aspirants to prepare in a focused and strategic manner.

This blog post highlights the most important topics for UPSC 2026 Prelims based on previous year question analysis, emerging national and international developments, and core foundational areas that consistently carry weightage. Aspirants should use this structured outline to prioritize their revision, strengthen weak areas, and align preparation with evolving exam patterns.

1. What is the “AI Bubble”?

The AI Bubble refers to a financial scenario where the market valuations of Artificial Intelligence companies far exceed their actual intrinsic value or current revenue-generating capacity.

Why the “Dotcom 2.0” Comparison?

It draws parallels to the Dotcom Bubble (1995–2000), where:

• Speculative Frenzy: Investors poured money into any company with a “.com” suffix, ignoring traditional financial metrics (PE ratios, cash flow).
• Hype vs. Reality: The promise of the internet was real, but the immediate profit models were not. When interest rates rose, the “cheap money” dried up, leading to a massive crash.

Why is it in the News (2025-26 Context)?

The term has resurfaced due to several critical “red flags” observed in the last 12-18 months:

• Concentration Risk: A handful of companies (the “Magnificent Seven”) drive a massive portion of stock market gains.
• ROI Gap: While billions are spent on NVIDIA chips and data centers, many enterprises are struggling to find a “Killer App” that yields a clear Return on Investment (ROI).
• Infrastructure Overhang: There are fears that the massive build-out of data centers might lead to “stranded assets” if AI adoption remains linear while investment is exponential.
• Monetary Policy: As central banks shifted from “zero-interest” regimes, the cost of funding speculative AI startups has increased, forcing a “reality check.”

Comparative Analysis: Then vs. Now

For your GS-3 Mains answer, use this table to show depth:

Latest Updated Data (2025-26)

• Market Size: Global AI spending is projected to reach $375 billion in 2025 and scale to $500 billion by 2026 (UBS/IDC data).
• India’s Context: The IndiaAI Mission was bolstered with an outlay of ₹10,371 crore, focusing on sovereign compute capacity (10,000+ GPUs).
• Productivity Gap: A 2026 report suggests that while 95% of AI projects have yet to show a financial surplus, the “Agentic AI” shift in 2026 is expected to bridge this gap by automating complex workflows.

2. What is the Finance Commission?

The Finance Commission is a Constitutional Body established under Article 280 of the Indian Constitution. Its primary role is to act as the “balancing wheel” of fiscal federalism by recommending how the tax revenue collected by the Union should be shared.

• Vertical Devolution: Sharing of funds between the Centre and the States.
• Horizontal Devolution: Distribution of the states’ share among the various states based on specific criteria (Equity vs. Efficiency).
• Composition: A Chairman and four members appointed by the President. The 16th FC is chaired by Dr. Arvind Panagariya (former Vice-Chairman of NITI Aayog).

Why is it in the News? (Latest 2026 Updates)

The 16th FC is trending because the Union Budget 2026 recently incorporated its landmark recommendations.

Key Highlights from the 2026 Report:

• Vertical Share: Maintained at 41% (same as the 15th FC), ensuring fiscal stability.
• New “Contribution to GDP” Criteria: For the first time, 10% weightage is given to a state’s contribution to the National GDP. This rewards economically performing states (largely in the South and West).
• Termination of Revenue Deficit Grants (RDG): In a bold move, the 16th FC has discontinued RDGs, pushing states toward self-reliance and better fiscal management.
• Strict Curb on Off-Budget Borrowings: The Commission recommended that all off-budget borrowings be brought onto the formal state budgets to ensure transparency.
• Urbanization Premium: Introduced a new grant to help rural areas transitioning into urban hubs.

Horizontal Devolution: 15th FC vs. 16th FC

UPSC often asks for a comparison of the weights assigned to different criteria.

3. What is Article 200?

Article 200 deals with the Assent to Bills passed by the State Legislature. When a Bill is presented to the Governor after being passed by the Assembly, they have four distinct paths:

1. Grant Assent: The Bill becomes an Act/Law.
2. Withhold Assent: The Bill does not become law. (Strictly limited by the first proviso).
3. Return for Reconsideration: The Governor can send a non-money bill back with a message. If the House passes it again—with or without changes—the Governor must grant assent.
4. Reserve for President: The Governor can send the Bill to the President (Article 201). This is mandatory if the Bill threatens the position of the High Court.

Why is it in the News? (2025-26 Context)

The “Governor vs. State” conflict reached a fever pitch in 2025, primarily in states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The core issue was the “Pocket Veto”—Governors sitting on bills for years without taking any action.

The Landmark 2025 Legal Shift

• The “Deemed Assent” Verdict (April 2025): In State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor, the Supreme Court initially took a radical stance. It used Article 142 to declare that 10 bills were “deemed to have received assent” because of the Governor’s “erroneous” and “illegal” delay. It even prescribed strict timelines (e.g., 1 month for re-passed bills).
• The Presidential Reference (November 2025): The President invoked Article 143 to ask if the Court could actually set such deadlines. A 5-judge Constitution Bench then clarified:
  • No Fixed Timelines: Courts cannot prescribe rigid deadlines (like a 30-day rule) for the Governor/President.
  • No Deemed Assent: A Bill cannot become law without the formal signature of the Governor or President.
  • End of Indefinite Inaction: While no deadline exists, the Court held that Governors must act “as soon as possible.” Prolonged, unexplained inaction is now justiciable (open to court review).

Latest Updated Data (2026)

• Disposal Rate: Following the 2025 rulings, the pendency of state bills across India dropped by 60% as Governors were urged to act as “facilitators, not obstacles.”
• Case Law: The ruling in State of Tamil Nadu v. Governor (2025) is now the primary precedent, superseding parts of the older Nabam Rebia (2016) case regarding gubernatorial discretion.
• Federal Impact: The 16th Finance Commission (2026) report also touched upon fiscal delays caused by legislative deadlocks, highlighting the economic cost of Article 200 delays.

4. What is Greenwashing?

Greenwashing is the practice of making misleading, vague, or unsubstantiated claims about the environmental benefits of a product, service, or company policy. It is “whitewashing” applied to ecology.

Common Tactics (The “Sins” of Greenwashing):

• Vague Claims: Using terms like “Eco-friendly,” “Green,” or “Natural” without specific definitions or proof.
• Hidden Trade-offs: Highlighting a single “green” feature (e.g., recycled packaging) while the manufacturing process itself is highly polluting.
• Irrelevant Claims: Boasting about being “CFC-free”—even though CFCs were legally banned decades ago.
• False Labels: Creating fake third-party certifications or using “nature-inspired” imagery (leaves, green colors) to imply sustainability.

Related Term – Greenhushing: When companies deliberately under-report their sustainability practices to avoid public scrutiny or being accused of greenwashing.

Why is it in the News? (2024–2026 Context)

The topic has gained immense traction due to a regulatory crackdown in India:

• CCPA Guidelines (October 2024/2025): The Central Consumer Protection Authority issued the “Guidelines for Prevention and Regulation of Greenwashing,” making it mandatory for companies to back environmental claims with verifiable scientific evidence.
• ASCI Standards (February 2024): The Advertising Standards Council of India implemented strict codes for “Green Claims,” requiring disclosures via QR codes or URLs to provide full data transparency.
• SEBI’s ESG Focus (2025-26): To protect investors, SEBI has tightened the BRSR (Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting) framework for the top 1,000 listed companies, penalizing “Greenwashing” in Green Debt Securities.
• Global Zero-Tolerance: At recent COPs, the UN Secretary-General has called for “Zero Tolerance” for greenwashing in net-zero pledges by non-state actors (corporations and cities).

Latest Data & Key Trends (2025-26)

• Incident Rate: According to RepRisk (2025), 1 in 4 climate-related ESG risk incidents globally is now linked to greenwashing.
• Sectoral Impact: The Banking and Financial Services sector saw a 70% increase in greenwashing accusations in the last year, often related to “Green Bonds” that fund fossil fuel activities.
• India’s Penalty: Under the latest CCPA norms, misleading green advertisements can attract fines up to ₹10 Lakh, rising to ₹50 Lakh for repeat offenders.

5.National Commission for Women (NCW)

1. Concept: What is the NCW?

Established in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990, the NCW is the apex national-level organization mandated to protect and promote the interests of women in India.

Composition & Mandate

• Structure: It consists of a Chairperson, five Members (with at least one from SC and one from ST), and a Member-Secretary, all nominated by the Central Government.
• Mandate:
  • Review constitutional and legal safeguards for women.
  • Recommend remedial legislative measures.
  • Facilitate redressal of grievances (Suo-motu power).
  • Advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women.

2. Why is it in the News? (2025-26 Context)

The NCW has been highly active in the 2025–26 cycle due to several major policy shifts and specific incidents:

• 34th Foundation Day (January 30, 2026): Celebrated at Bharat Mandapam with the theme “Swasthya hi Sashaktikaran” (Health is Empowerment). It emphasized the link between women’s nutrition (POSHAN Abhiyaan) and their socio-economic agency.
• “She is a Changemaker” Phase 3: The NCW expanded this capacity-building program in early 2026 to train elected women representatives at the grassroots level (Panchayats) in leadership skills.
• “Tere Mere Sapne” AI Initiative: Launched in collaboration with IIT Madras, this program uses an AI module for pre-marital counseling to reduce domestic friction and empower women with legal knowledge before marriage.
• Cognizance of Crimes: In February 2026, the NCW constituted an inquiry committee to investigate high-profile cases of sexual assault, including incidents at major cultural festivals (e.g., Medaram Jatara).

3. Latest Updated Data (February 2026)

• Chairperson: Smt. Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar (Assumed office in late 2024; currently leading the Commission).
• Complaint Trends (2025): The NCW received approximately 28,000+ complaints in 2025, with Domestic Violence and Right to Dignity (harassment) being the most reported categories.
• New Cells: The NCW recently formalized its “Digital Shakti Kendra” to combat cyber-crimes against women, reflecting the rise in deepfakes and online harassment.

6.Mineral Exploration in Rajasthan

1. Concept: Mineral Exploration in Rajasthan

Mineral exploration involves the scientific search for mineral deposits using geological, geophysical, and geochemical methods. Rajasthan is uniquely positioned due to:

• Geological Diversity: It hosts rocks from the oldest (Aravallis) to the most recent (Thar desert), harboring 81 types of minerals (57 commercially exploited).
• Monopoly/Lead: Rajasthan is the sole producer of Lead, Zinc, Wollastonite, and Selenite in India and a major producer of Copper, Rock Phosphate, and Gypsum.

2. Why was it in the news (2025–26)?

Several landmark developments have made Rajasthan the “mining capital” of national headlines recently:

• Rare Earth Elements (REE) Discovery (2025): Confirmed deposits of over 1.11 lakh tonnes of REEs were found in the Siwana Ring (Balotra) and Jalore regions. This is critical for reducing India’s 90% import dependence on China for EV batteries and defense tech.
• Deployment of AI & ML (Dec 2025): The Rajasthan government signed MoUs with IIT Hyderabad and IIT ISM Dhanbad to use Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to map mineral-rich zones across 39 districts.
• Mining from Waste (Tailings): A new project was launched in 2026 to extract critical minerals (like Lithium and Cobalt) from old mine dumps (tailings), turning “geological trash” into strategic wealth.
• Aravalli Mining Controversy (Late 2025): The Supreme Court and environmentalists raised concerns over illegal mining pits in the Aravalli range, questioning the balance between economic development and ecological preservation.
• 37 New Projects (2026-27): The state announced a massive rollout of 37 exploration projects targeting Limestone, Ferrous metals, and Rare Earths.

3. Latest Data (Update 2026)

• Mineral Revenue: Rajasthan generated a record revenue of ₹6,857 crore (up to Dec 2025) in the current fiscal year.
• Contribution to National Output: * Zinc & Lead: ~100% of India’s production.
  • Copper: ~43% of India’s concentrate production.
  • Phosphorite: ~92% of India’s total output.
• Strategic Reserves: Confirmation of 1.29 million tonnes of Rare Earth Oxide (REO) in hard rock formations across Rajasthan and Gujarat (as per AMD report, Jan 2026).

7.Mixopathy

1. Concept: What is Mixopathy?

Mixopathy is a critical term used (primarily by the modern medical community) to describe the integrative approach where practitioners of traditional medicine (AYUSH) are allowed to perform procedures or prescribe medicines belonging to modern medicine (Allopathy).

The Core Debate

• Government Stance: Proponents call it “Integrative Medicine.” The goal is to utilize India’s vast traditional knowledge and bridge the shortage of doctors in rural areas by training AYUSH practitioners in certain modern medical procedures.
• IMA Stance: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) labels it “Mixopathy,” arguing that it creates “half-baked” doctors. They contend that mixing two vastly different systems—one evidence-based and the other based on traditional philosophy—compromises patient safety and the purity of both systems.

2. Why is it in the News? (2025–2026 Context)

The debate has reached a fever pitch recently due to several administrative and budgetary moves:

• Integrated MBBS-BAMS Proposal (June 2025): The government’s proposal to introduce a “merger” course at institutes like JIPMER sparked nationwide protests. Critics call this an “unscientific mixing” that could dilute the standards of medical education.
• NITI Aayog’s 2026 Roadmap: NITI Aayog has been working on a framework for “One Nation, One Health System” by 2030, which envisions a unified medical education and practice system.
• Union Budget 2026-27: A significant allocation of ₹4,408 crore was made to the AYUSH sector, including the establishment of three new All-India Institutes of Ayurveda (on the lines of AIIMS) designed to practice Integrative Healthcare.
• Supreme Court Scrutiny (2025): The Court has been hearing petitions regarding the “legal boundaries” of AYUSH practitioners, emphasizing that while integration is a policy matter, “expert opinion” must prevail over political expediency.

3. Latest Updated Data (February 2026)

• AYUSH Budget (2026-27): Increased to ₹4,408 crore (a sharp rise from ₹3,992 crore in 2025-26).
• Doctor-Patient Ratio: India has reached the WHO-recommended 1:1000 ratio if AYUSH doctors are included, but remains below it for modern medicine (Allopathy) alone in rural sectors.
• National AYUSH Mission (NAM): Received a 66% hike in the latest budget to modernize AYUSH hospitals and promote “Yoga Samyog”—the evidence-based integration of Yoga into clinical practice.

8.COP29 (Baku, Azerbaijan, Nov 2024)

1. What is COP29?

COP (Conference of the Parties) is the supreme decision-making body of the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change). COP29 was critical because it fell just before the 2025 deadline for countries to submit their updated Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).

Why was it in the news?

The summit was dominated by the “North-South” divide over Climate Finance. Developing nations (Global South) argued that without massive financial support, they cannot transition away from fossil fuels or adapt to climate disasters caused primarily by the historical emissions of the Global North.

2. Key Outcomes & Latest Data (2025-26)

The summit concluded with a polarized agreement. Here is the breakdown of the major results:

A. The New Finance Goal (NCQG)

• NCQG (New Collective Quantified Goal): This is the successor to the previous $100 billion target.
• The Target: Developed countries agreed to lead the mobilization of $300 billion annually by 2035.
• The Gap: Developing nations, including India, called this figure “paltry” and “abysmally poor,” having demanded $1.3 trillion annually. The final text does mention a “wider goal” of $1.3 trillion from all sources (private/public) by 2035, but the “hard” commitment remains at $300 billion.

B. Carbon Markets (Article 6)

• Operationalization: After years of deadlock, rules for Article 6.4 (a UN-centralized carbon market) were finalized.
• Impact: This allows countries to trade carbon credits under a standardized global framework, intended to attract private investment into green projects while preventing “double counting.”

C. Methane and Energy Storage

• Organic Waste: Over 30 countries signed a declaration to reduce methane from organic waste (India is not a signatory).
• Storage Goal: A pledge was made to increase global energy storage sixfold to 1,500 GW by 2030 to support the tripling of renewable energy.

D. Loss and Damage Fund

• The fund is now operational, with initial disbursements expected to start in 2025. However, current pledges ($700 million) remain a fraction of the actual need.

9.UNFCCC

1.What is the UNFCCC?

The UNFCCC is an international environmental treaty adopted in 1992 at the Rio Earth Summit. It provides the foundational framework for intergovernmental efforts to tackle the challenge posed by climate change.

Key Features:

• Objective: To stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that prevents “dangerous anthropogenic interference” with the climate system.
• Legal Status: It is a framework convention; it does not set binding limits on GHG emissions for individual countries but provides for “protocols” or “agreements” (like Paris) that can set such limits.
• CBDR-RC Principle: It is based on “Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities.” This acknowledges that developed countries have a greater historical responsibility for emissions and should lead the mitigation effort.
• Secretariat: Located in Bonn, Germany.

2. Why is it in the News? (2025–2026 Context)

The UNFCCC process has entered a “critical implementation decade.” Recent highlights include:

• COP30 Prep (Belém, Brazil, 2025): Currently, the global focus is on the “Road to Belém.” COP30 is expected to be the most significant summit since Paris, as countries must submit their NDCs 3.0 (Nationally Determined Contributions) with highly ambitious 2035 targets.
• NCQG Roadmap (2026): Following COP29, 2026 is the year of the “Finance Roadmap.” Parties are working on the operational details of the $300 billion annual climate finance goal (scaling toward $1.3 trillion by 2035) to help developing nations.
• Article 6 Registry (January 2026): The UNFCCC recently began the technical development of the Article 6.4 Registry, which will finally allow for a UN-centralized global carbon market to become functional by late 2026.
• Global Stocktake (GST) Follow-up: Governments are being pressured to “act on the science” of the first GST, which concluded that the world is currently off-track to limit warming to 1.5^OC

3. Latest Updated Data (February 2026)

• Membership: 198 Parties (197 countries + European Union). It has near-universal membership.
• Finance: The state of climate finance for nature in 2026 shows a gap; while $220 billion currently flows into nature-based solutions, investment needs to reach $571 billion annually by 2030.
• Current Warming Projection: Despite current NDCs, the UN Emissions Gap Report 2025/26 indicates the world is still on a path toward 2.5^OC to 2.9^OC of warming by the end of the century.

10. HMPV (Human Metapneumovirus)

1. Concept: What is HMPV?

Human Metapneumovirus (HMPV) is a respiratory virus belonging to the Pneumoviridae family (closely related to the Respiratory Syncytial Virus or RSV).

Key Characteristics:

• Target: It infects the upper and lower respiratory tracts.
• Symptoms: Similar to the common cold, influenza, or COVID-19 (cough, fever, nasal congestion, and shortness of breath).
• Vulnerable Groups: It is most severe in young children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals.
• Discovery: Though it has likely circulated for decades, it was first identified by Dutch scientists in 2001.

2. Why is it in the news? (2025–26 Context)

HMPV has gained significant attention in recent months due to several factors:

• The “Immunity Debt” Spike: Following the relaxation of COVID-19 protocols, there has been a global surge in non-COVID respiratory viruses. In late 2025 and early 2026, HMPV cases saw a 30% increase in several countries, including India.
• Diagnostic Breakthroughs: For the first time, HMPV has been included in standard Multiplex PCR panels in major Indian diagnostic labs, leading to higher detection rates rather than being dismissed as an “unspecified flu.”
• Vaccine Development (The mRNA Leap): In early 2026, clinical trials for the first mRNA-based HMPV vaccine (combined with RSV and Flu) entered Phase III, promising a “triple-threat” shot for the elderly.
• Co-infections: Research published in late 2025 highlighted that HMPV-COVID co-infections significantly increase the risk of severe pneumonia, prompting new clinical guidelines from health ministries.

3. Latest Updated Data (February 2026)

• Prevalence: HMPV is now estimated to be the second most common cause of lower respiratory infections in children worldwide, trailing only RSV.
• Treatment Status: As of now, there is no specific antiviral drug or FDA-approved vaccine for HMPV. Treatment remains supportive (hydration, oxygen, and fever management).
• Surveillance in India: The Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) has recently started monitoring “Influenza-like Illness” (ILI) clusters that test negative for both Flu and COVID, with HMPV emerging as a primary culprit in urban clusters like Delhi and Bengaluru.

Conclusion

The topics outlined for UPSC 2026 Prelims reflect a clear trend: the examination is increasingly moving toward a sophisticated intersection of traditional governance and cutting-edge disruption. Whether it is the constitutional nuances of Article 200 or the strategic importance of Mineral Exploration in Rajasthan, success in the Preliminary exam now demands a “connect-the-dots” approach.

Aspirants must recognize that subjects are no longer silos. The AI Bubble isn’t just a tech trend; it is an economic risk (GS-3). Mixopathy isn’t just a medical debate; it is a hurdle for Universal Health Coverage (GS-2). Understanding these links is what differentiates a serious candidate from the crowd.

Key Takeaways for Your 2026 Strategy:

• Track the “Shift”: Move beyond 20th-century concepts. Focus on how the 16th Finance Commission or COP29 finance goals are reshaping the fiscal and environmental landscape for the next decade.
• Focus on Statutory and Quasi-Judicial Bodies: Entities like the NCW or the CCPA (in the context of Greenwashing) are frequently in the news for their evolving regulatory roles.
• Science & Environment as Tie-Breakers: With emerging threats like HMPV and the complex negotiations under the UNFCCC, these sections often act as the “deciding factor” in Prelims cut-offs.

Preparation for 2026 should be dynamic, data-driven, and deep. Strengthen your foundations, but keep your eyes on the latest reports and judicial pronouncements. Consistent revision of these high-priority areas will ensure that you are not just prepared for the questions of yesterday, but ready for the challenges of tomorrow’s exam.