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 UNESCO Creative Cities Network (UCCN)?

The UCCN was launched in 2004 to promote cooperation among cities that use creativity as a strategic driver for sustainable urban development. It aligns with the UN 2030 Agenda, particularly Sustainable Development Goal 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities).

🆕 Major Update: The 8th Creative Field

Until late 2025, there were only seven creative fields. In a landmark shift on World Cities Day (October 31, 2025), UNESCO introduced Architecture as the eighth category.

The 8 Creative Fields are now:

1. Crafts and Folk Arts
2. Design
3. Film
4. Gastronomy
5. Literature
6. Media Arts
7. Music
8. Architecture (Added in 2025)

Latest 2026 Data: Indian Cities in UCCN

With the addition of Lucknow in late 2025, India now has 9 cities in the network.

Why is this in the news? (Current Context 2025–2026)

1. World Cities Day 2025: UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay designated 58 new member cities, bringing the total to 408 cities across 100+ countries.
2. Lucknow’s Designation: Lucknow joined the Gastronomy category during the 43rd UNESCO General Conference (2025), celebrating the city’s legacy of “Ustads” (master chefs) and its zero-waste cooking initiatives.
3. Inaugural Architecture Cities: For the first time, cities like Quito (Ecuador) and Rovaniemi (Finland) were named “Cities of Architecture.”
4. 2026 Annual Conference: UNESCO announced that Essaouira (Morocco) will host the XVIII UCCN Annual Conference in 2026.

2. Contempt Plea: The Rakesh Kishore Case (2025–26)

In October 2025, the Supreme Court of India witnessed a rare and shocking breach of decorum that led to a national debate on the boundaries of legal protest and judicial dignity.

1. The Incident

On October 6, 2025, a 71-year-old advocate, Rakesh Kishore, allegedly hurled a shoe (or an object described as rolled-up papers in some reports) toward the bench of the Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai. The act was accompanied by slogans regarding “Sanatan Dharma,” triggered by the advocate’s displeasure over certain judicial remarks made during a hearing on a temple idol case.

2. Legal Action Taken

• Bar Council of India (BCI): Suspended Kishore’s license immediately, citing “Standards of Professional Conduct and Etiquette.”
• Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA): Filed a criminal contempt petition, arguing that the act was an affront to the judicial institution itself.
• Attorney General’s Consent: AG R. Venkataramani granted mandatory consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings under Section 15 of the Contempt of Courts Act, 1971.

3. The Judicial Stand: “Natural Death”

Despite the AG’s consent, a bench led by Justice Surya Kant (in late 2025 and early 2026) expressed a preference to ignore the incident.

• The Logic: The court observed that CJI Gavai had “magnanimously” pardoned the individual.
• Institutional Restraint: The bench remarked that pursuing contempt would only “glorify” the act and give it an “extended shelf-life” in media and social media.
• Latest Update (Feb 2026): On February 5, 2026, the SC dismissed a bizarre intervention application in this case where a person claiming to be the “President of India” sought the death penalty for the lawyer, signaling the court’s intent to wrap up the matter without unnecessary drama.

Why is this in the news? (UPSC Context)

This case highlights the “Tension between Freedom of Expression and Judicial Dignity.”

• Self-Restraint: It serves as a prime example of the judiciary using the power of contempt as a “last resort.”
• Digital Misinformation: The Solicitor General noted that such attacks are often fueled by misinformation or “glorification” of judicial defiance on social media.
• Safety of Court Spaces: The incident prompted calls for a structural response to secure courtrooms and prevent “John Doe” orders against social media posts that promote attacks on judges.

3. The Danakil Depression & Hayli Gubbi

1. The Geographical Setting

• Danakil Depression: Located in the Afar Triangle of Ethiopia, it is one of the lowest (125m below sea level) and hottest places on Earth.
• Hayli Gubbi: A Shield Volcano situated at the southern end of the Erta Ale volcanic range.
• Tectonic Framework: The region is a Triple Junction where three tectonic plates are pulling apart (diverging):
  1. Nubian Plate (African)
  2. Somali Plate (African)
  3. Arabian Plate
• The Future Ocean: This rifting process is thinning the Earth’s crust. Geologists believe this area is the birthplace of a new ocean basin that will eventually split the African continent.

2. The “Shield Volcano” Paradox

Typically, shield volcanoes (like Mauna Loa) erupt gently with fluid, basaltic lava. However, Hayli Gubbi’s recent eruption was explosive (Sub-Plinian style).

• Reason: After ~12,000 years of dormancy, the magma underwent fractional crystallization, becoming silica-rich (viscous) and trapping gases, leading to a massive blast rather than a steady flow.

Why is this in the news? (2025-2026 Context)

1. Historic Reawakening: In November 2023, Hayli Gubbi erupted for the first time in recorded history (believed to be dormant for over 10,000 years).
2. Impact on India (Feb 2026): High-altitude winds carried the volcanic ash plume (~45,000 ft) across the Red Sea and Arabian Peninsula. By early 2026, aviation advisories were issued in India (Delhi, Gujarat, and Rajasthan) as the ash cloud impacted international flight corridors and air quality.
3. Aviation Crisis: The plume contained fine glass shards and sulfur dioxide (SO₂), which are hazardous to jet engines, leading to rerouting of flights between Southeast Asia and Europe.

Latest Updated Data (February 2026)

4. What is COP 30?

COP 30 is the 30th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change).

• The Setting: Hosted in the heart of the Amazon rainforest, the location was symbolic, emphasizing that Nature and Forests are no longer peripheral but central to climate mitigation.
• The “Ratchet Mechanism”: It marked the critical deadline for countries to submit their NDC 3.0 (Nationally Determined Contributions). These are updated climate action plans for 2035 that must show higher ambition than previous ones.

Why was it in the news? (Key Outcomes & Latest Updates)

1. The Belém Package

The summit concluded with the adoption of the Belém Package, focusing on turning pledges into measurable results. Unlike previous COPs focused on “intent,” COP 30 emphasized “accountability.”

2. Tropical Forests Forever Facility (TFFF)

Brazil officially launched this $125 Billion fund.

• Concept: It pays tropical nations for keeping forests standing.
• Innovation: It shifts from a “carbon credit” model to a “performance-based” model where countries are rewarded based on the hectares of forest preserved.
• India’s Role: India joined as an Observer, signaling its interest in nature-linked finance models.

3. The Finance Goal (NCQG)

Following the roadmap from COP 29 (Baku), COP 30 reaffirmed the New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG).

• The Target: To mobilize at least $1.3 Trillion annually by 2035 for developing nations.
• The Conflict: Deep divides remain between the Global North and South on how much of this should be “public grants” versus “private loans.”

4. Fossil Fuel Phase-out Standoff

Notably, the final text did not include a mandatory timeline for fossil fuel phase-out due to opposition from major oil-producing blocs. Instead, a voluntary “Transition Away” Roadmap was proposed outside the formal UN text.

India at COP 30: Stance and Progress

India positioned itself as the Voice of the Global South, emphasizing Climate Justice.

• NDC 3.0: India submitted its updated targets for 2035, focusing on scaling up Green Hydrogen and the International Big Cat Alliance as a nature-based climate solution.
• Finance Demand: India reiterated that developed nations must fulfill their Article 9.1 obligations to provide “trillions, not billions” in concessional finance.
• Achievements: India reported meeting its 2030 NDC targets five years early, with over 50% of its power capacity now coming from non-fossil sources.

Latest Data (Up to Feb 2026)

5. Emissions Gap Report (EGR) 2025

The EGR is an annual science-based assessment that tracks the “gap” between where global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are headed with current country commitments and where they ought to be to limit warming to 1.5^OC or 2^OC in line with the Paris Agreement.

Core Concepts to Know:

• The Emissions Gap: The difference between the “low-carbon world” we need and the “high-carbon world” we are creating.
• NDC (Nationally Determined Contributions): Climate action plans that countries are required to update every five years.
• Implementation Gap: The difference between what countries pledged to do (NDCs) and what they are actually doing through current policies.

Why was it in the news? (Key Findings 2025–26)

The 2025 report was released ahead of COP30 (Brazil) and delivered a stark warning about the “last window of opportunity.”

1. Temperature Projections

• Current Policies: If nothing changes, the world is on track for 2.8^OC of warming.
• NDC Implementation: Even if all current pledges are met, warming would reach 2.3^OC – 2.5^OC.
• Stagnation: While projections dropped from 3.5^OC in 2015 to approx 2.5^OC today, new pledges in 2025 “barely moved the needle.”

2. The 1.5°C Overshoot

The report concludes that the $1.5^OC threshold will likely be breached within the next decade. The focus is now on making this “overshoot” as short and minimal as possible.

3. India Specific Data

• Highest Absolute Rise: India recorded the world’s largest absolute increase in total GHG emissions in 2024.
• Growth Rate: India’s emissions grew by 3.6%, the second-highest rate among G20 nations (after Indonesia).
• Per Capita Exception: Despite high total emissions, India’s per capita emissions remain well below the global average.

Latest Data Summary (Updated Feb 2026)

6. What is the Kyoto Protocol?

The Kyoto Protocol (KP) is an international treaty adopted in 1997 (COP 3) that “operationalizes” the UNFCCC. Unlike the UNFCCC, which only encourages countries, the Kyoto Protocol committed industrialized nations to stabilize greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

1. Key Principles

• CBDR-RC: Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities. It acknowledges that developed nations are historically responsible for current GHG levels.
• Annex-Based Structure: Only Annex I countries (developed nations) had binding targets. Developing nations (Non-Annex I), including India and China, were exempt from binding targets to allow for their economic growth.

2. Market-Based Mechanisms

To help countries meet targets cost-effectively, KP introduced three “Flexible Mechanisms”:

• Clean Development Mechanism (CDM): Developed nations invest in green projects in developing nations and earn Certified Emission Reduction (CER) credits.
• Joint Implementation (JI): Emission reduction projects shared between two Annex I (developed) nations.
• International Emissions Trading: Countries with “excess” emission capacity can sell it to those exceeding their targets (Carbon Market).

Why is it in the News? (Latest Feb 2026 Update)

1. ICJ Advisory Opinion (August 2025): The International Court of Justice (ICJ) clarified that the Kyoto Protocol remains legally valid. It ruled that although its commitment periods ended in 2020, its legal obligations regarding historical liability still exist. This allows developing nations to hold developed countries legally accountable for past non-compliance.
2. Doha Amendment Completion: As of February 2026, the official status of the Doha Amendment (which established the second commitment period 2013-2020) shows 148 parties have ratified it, maintaining its legal footprint in international climate jurisprudence.
3. The “Legacy” of Vijai Sharma: In 2025, the passing of Vijai Sharma (India’s chief negotiator for Kyoto) sparked a revival of the debate on “Equity,” as he was the architect who ensured India’s interests were protected through the CDM.

Relation to Paris Agreement (Key Differences)

7. What is the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international treaty on climate change, adopted by 196 parties at COP 21 in 2015. It replaced the Kyoto Protocol’s “top-down” approach with a “bottom-up” framework.

1. The Core Objectives

• Temperature Goal: To limit global warming to well below 2°C, preferably to 1.5°C, compared to pre-industrial levels.
• Resilience: Increasing the ability to adapt to the adverse impacts of climate change.
• Finance: Making finance flows consistent with a pathway toward low greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.

2. Key Mechanisms

• NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions): Each country’s self-defined plan to reduce emissions. These must be updated every 5 years with increased ambition (the “Ratchet Mechanism”).
• Global Stocktake (GST): A periodic review (every 5 years) to assess collective progress. The first GST concluded at COP 28, and COP 30 began the “Implementation Phase” based on those results.
• Article 6: Establishes a framework for international carbon markets, fully operationalized by 2025-26.

Why is it in the news? (Latest 2026 Context)

1. US Withdrawal (Jan 2026): On January 27, 2026, the United States officially withdrew from the Paris Agreement for the second time, following President Trump’s second-term executive order. However, sub-national actors (states like California) and the private sector have pledged to continue “We Are Still In” efforts.
2. COP 30 “Belém Package”: Held in the Amazon gateway, COP 30 introduced the “Belém Mission to 1.5°C,” focusing on nature-based solutions and the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF).
3. The 1.5°C Overshoot: In early 2026, scientific reports confirmed that the global average temperature has temporarily surpassed 1.5°C. The discourse has now shifted to “overshoot and return” strategies.
4. India’s Article 6 Entry: In August 2025, India signed the Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM), marking its formal entry into high-quality international carbon trading under Article 6.2.

India’s Updated Commitments (Panchamrit 2.0)

India is currently one of the few G20 nations “on track” to meet its targets.

8. Synchronous All-India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) report 

The Wildlife Institute of India (WII)

The WII (Dehradun) is the scientific backbone of India’s wildlife policy.

• Autonomy: It is an autonomous body under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• The “Tiger Model” for Elephants: After the success of the All-India Tiger Estimation (AITE), the WII was tasked with standardizing the elephant census.
• Digital Infrastructure: WII manages the M-STrIPES (Monitoring System for Tigers – Intensive Protection and Ecological Status) app, which was adapted for the SAIEE 2021–25 to record elephant signs, human disturbances, and vegetation.

The DNA-Based Census (SAIEE 2021–2025)

The Synchronous All-India Elephant Estimation (SAIEE) report released in October 2025 is the first-ever national-level genetic census.

1. Methodology: The Mark-Recapture Model

Previously, counts relied on Direct Sighting (often inaccurate in dense forests) or Dung-Decay Rates (highly variable based on rain/humidity).

• Step 1: Scientists collected 21,056 dung samples across 6.7 lakh km of forest trails.
• Step 2: DNA fingerprinting identified 4,065 unique individuals.
• Step 3: Using Spatially Explicit Capture-Recapture (SECR) modeling, the WII estimated the total population at 22,446 (with a scientific range of 18,255 to 26,645).

2. Why the numbers “dropped”

The 2017 estimate was 29,964. The 2025 figure of 22,446 shows a ~18–25% “apparent” decline.

• Correction, not Collapse: WII experts clarify that the 2017 numbers were likely inflated due to overcounting (the same elephant seen twice). The 2025 data is a “New Scientific Baseline.”
• Real Threats: While the decline is partly methodological, real habitat loss in Jharkhand (-68%) and Odisha (-54%) is a major concern.

Why is this in the news? (2025–2026 Updates)

1. Project Tiger & Elephant (PT&E) Merger: Announced in June 2023 and fully operationalized by 2025. The two separate Centrally Sponsored Schemes were merged into one administrative division to rationalize funding. Critics fear this may dilute the specific focus needed for elephant-human conflict.
2. Gaj Soochna App: Launched in late 2025 by WII, this app allows forest guards to upload genetic data and geo-tagged photos to a national database, effectively creating a “Genetic Aadhaar” for India’s elephants.
3. Regional Action Plans (RAPs): In December 2025, the government launched separate RAPs for South India and the Northeast, recognizing that conservation strategies for the Western Ghats (high density) cannot be the same as Central India (high conflict).

Comprehensive Landscape Data (Feb 2026)

9. Right to Marry in India

In the Indian legal context, the “Right to Marry” is not an explicitly mentioned Fundamental Right in the Constitution. Instead, it has been evolved through judicial activism.

1. The Judicial Evolution

• Article 21 (Right to Life & Liberty): The Supreme Court has consistently held that the right to marry a person of one’s choice is an integral part of Article 21.
• Key Case Laws:
  • Shafin Jahan v. Asokan K.M. (2018): Known as the “Hadiya Case,” the SC ruled that the right to marry a person of one’s choice is an “inviolable core” of one’s privacy and dignity.
  • Lata Singh v. State of UP (2006): Established that an adult has the right to marry whomever they like, and no person (including parents) can prevent or harass them.
  • Shakti Vahini v. Union of India (2018): The Court struck down the interference of “Khap Panchayats,” stating that the right to choose a partner is a facet of liberty and dignity.

2. The Legal Distinction (The “Supriyo” Turning Point)

In the landmark Supriyo v. Union of India (2023) judgment, the Supreme Court drew a sharp line:

• Right to choose a partner: This is a Fundamental Right under Article 21.
• Right to the institution of marriage: There is no fundamental right to marry. Marriage is a “statutory” institution created and regulated by the State. Therefore, the Court cannot force the Parliament to expand the definition of marriage (e.g., to same-sex couples) through judicial decree.

Why is this in the news? (Latest 2025–2026 Updates)

1. Uniform Minimum Age for Marriage (2026): As of early 2026, the Prohibition of Child Marriage (Amendment) Bill remains a point of intense legislative debate. It seeks to raise the marriage age of women to 21 years (bringing it at par with men).
2. Special Marriage Act (SMA) Challenges (Dec 2025): The Delhi High Court is currently examining the constitutionality of the 30-day public notice requirement under the SMA. Petitioners argue that this notice violates the right to privacy and puts interfaith couples at risk of vigilante violence.
3. Validity of Rituals (Dolly Rani Case, 2024): In a crucial ruling, the SC held that a marriage certificate alone does not make a Hindu marriage valid. Unless the essential religious ceremonies (like Saptapadi) are performed, the marriage is legally non-existent under the Hindu Marriage Act.
4. High-Powered Committee on Queer Rights (2025): Following the Supriyo judgment, the Union government formed a committee (headed by the Cabinet Secretary) to examine “administrative steps” for queer couples (e.g., joint bank accounts, pension rights) without granting formal “marriage” status.

10. The Indira Sawhney vs. Union of India (1992) case

The Indira Sawhney vs. Union of India (1992) case, often referred to as the Mandal Commission Case, is perhaps the most critical judicial pronouncement on reservation policy in India. 

Concept: The Mandal Verdict

In 1990, the V.P. Singh government decided to implement the recommendations of the Mandal Commission (1979), which proposed 27% reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) in central government jobs. This led to widespread protests and a legal challenge by Indira Sawhney.

Key Legal Principles Established:

• Caste as a Class: The Court held that a “caste” can be considered a “social class” for identifying backwardness.
• 50% Ceiling: It established a rule that total reservations should not exceed 50%, except in “extraordinary circumstances” (e.g., remote or far-flung areas).
• Creamy Layer: Introduced the concept of the “creamy layer” to exclude affluent members of the OBCs from reservation benefits.
• No Reservation in Promotions: Initially, the Court ruled that reservation applies only to initial appointments. (Note: Later amended by Article 16(4A)).
• Article 16(4) as an Enabling Provision: Article 16(4) is not an exception but an illustration of the right to equality under Article 16(1).

Why is it in the news? (2025–2026 Context)

The “Indira Sawhney Limit” is currently under intense scrutiny due to several state and central developments:

1. Breaching the 50% Cap: Many states, including Telangana (recently seeking 42% OBC quota), Maharashtra (Maratha Reservation), and Bihar, have passed laws exceeding the 50% limit. In 2025-26, the Supreme Court has consistently stayed or monitored these moves to see if they meet the “exceptional circumstances” test.
2. EWS Reservation (103rd Amendment): The implementation of 10% reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) took total reservation to 60% nationally. The SC upheld this in the Janhit Abhiyan case (2022), leading to debates on whether the 50% limit in Indira Sawhney was a “fixed rule” or a “flexible guideline.”
3. Sub-classification of SCs (2025): In a landmark 6:1 verdict in late 2024/early 2025, the SC ruled that sub-classification within Scheduled Castes is permissible to help more backward groups—referencing the “more backward” logic discussed in Indira Sawhney.

Conclusion

The topics outlined in this second part of our series—ranging from the volcanic reawakening in the Danakil Depression to the shifting judicial interpretations of the Indira Sawhney ceiling—underscore a vital truth for the 2026 Prelims: The boundaries between static syllabus and dynamic current affairs have virtually disappeared.

To succeed in this evolving environment, aspirants must transition from rote memorization to a “Connect-the-Dots” approach. Whether it is understanding how the DNA-based Elephant Census enhances ecological data or how COP 30 outcomes redefine India’s Panchamrit 2.0 targets, your preparation must be rooted in deep conceptual clarity and an eye for global trends.

Key Strategy Moving Forward:

• Interdisciplinary Linking: Connect Geography (Tectonics) with Environment (Aviation impact of ash clouds) and Polity (Constitutional morality) with Social Issues (Marriage laws).
• Focus on Methodology: Pay attention to how data is collected (e.g., the SECR model in wildlife estimation) as UPSC is increasingly targeting the scientific processes behind reports.
• Judicial Watch: Keep a close watch on the Supreme Court’s interpretation of “Statutory Institutions” versus “Fundamental Rights,” as this is the new frontier for Polity questions.

As the 2026 exam approaches, staying updated with high-yield data and judicial precedents will be your greatest competitive advantage. Continue to refine your notes, prioritize active recall, and maintain a balanced perspective on national and international developments.