Daily Current Affairs 23-10-2026 (English)

1. UNEP Emissions Gap Report 2026: The Growing Climate Challenge

1. Why is it in the news?

The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) released its Emissions Gap Report 2026: The Point of Return in October 2026. The report highlights that current climate commitments are insufficient to keep global warming within the 1.5°C limit. However, rapid emission reductions and effective climate policies could still help bring the world closer to this target.

2. What is the Emissions Gap Report?

The Emissions Gap Report is an annual publication of UNEP that assesses the difference between:

• Projected global greenhouse gas emissions under current climate policies and commitments.
• The level of emissions required to limit global temperature rise to agreed climate targets.

This difference is known as the emissions gap.

3. Major findings

• 1.5°C target: Under current conditions, global temperatures are expected to temporarily exceed this threshold.
• By 2030: Global greenhouse gas emissions would need to fall by 18% compared with 2025 levels.
• By 2035: Emissions would need to decline by 45%.
• By 2040: A reduction of 69% would be required.

These reductions relate to the report's lowest-temperature-overshoot pathway. Under current nationally determined contributions (NDCs), the expected reductions are substantially lower.

4. Why is the 1.5°C target important?

Under the Paris Agreement, countries committed to holding the increase in global average temperature to well below 2°C above pre-industrial levels and pursuing efforts to limit it to 1.5°C.

Rising temperatures increase the risks of:

• Extreme heatwaves.
• Droughts, floods and intense rainfall.
• Sea-level rise.
• Biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation.
• Reduced agricultural productivity and threats to food security.

5. Significance for India

Climate change is not merely an environmental challenge for India; it is also an economic and social concern. Agriculture, water resources, coastal areas and public health are particularly vulnerable.

India's key priorities include:

1. Expanding solar and wind energy.
2. Improving energy efficiency.
3. Promoting public transport and clean mobility.
4. Strengthening climate-resilient agriculture and water management.
5. Securing adequate climate finance and technology transfer for developing countries.

6. Major challenges

• Limited availability of climate finance for developing countries.
• Balancing energy security with emission reductions.
• Continued dependence on fossil fuels.
• The gap between national climate commitments and actual implementation.

UPSC Mains Question: “The widening gap between global climate targets and current national commitments is a major challenge for climate governance.” Analyse this statement in the Indian context.

2. Agrivoltaics: Integrating Agriculture with Solar Energy

1. Why is it in the news?

The 7th AgriVoltaics World Conference 2026 was inaugurated on 21 October 2026 at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi. Held in India for the first time, the global conference focused on combining agricultural production with solar energy generation. Its theme was Powering the Global South.

2. What is agrivoltaics?

Agrivoltaics, also known as AgriPV, is a system in which agricultural production and solar electricity generation take place on the same land.

Solar panels are installed in a way that allows sufficient space and suitable light conditions for crops to grow beneath or between them.

The major models include:

• Elevated solar panels: Crops are cultivated beneath raised solar panels.
• Inter-row farming: Agriculture takes place between rows of solar panels.
• Grazing-based systems: Livestock graze beneath panels where site conditions permit.

3. Significance for India

A. Diversification of farmers' income: Farmers may earn income from agricultural produce as well as solar power, provided that electricity sales and project costs are commercially viable.

B. Better land-use efficiency: The need for separate land for agriculture and energy production may be reduced.

C. Climate adaptation: Partial shade can reduce heat stress and water evaporation for certain crops. However, the benefits depend on crop type, weather conditions and panel design.

D. Energy security: Agrivoltaics can support decentralised renewable energy generation in rural areas.

E. Opportunities for small farmers: Community-based projects, Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and shared ownership models can make participation easier for small and marginal farmers.

4. Link with PM-KUSUM

The Pradhan Mantri Kisan Urja Suraksha evam Utthaan Mahabhiyan (PM-KUSUM) aims to promote solar energy in agriculture, improve farmers' energy security and create opportunities to increase their income.

Agrivoltaics can complement these objectives. However, agrivoltaics and PM-KUSUM are not the same scheme. Eligibility for a project depends on the applicable component and official guidelines.

5. Major challenges

• High initial investment in solar panels and supporting structures.
• Limited access to finance and technology for small farmers.
• Reduced crop yields in some cases due to excessive shading.
• Issues related to land leasing, power-purchase agreements and revenue sharing.
• Need for crop-specific scientific research.

At the conference, the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) highlighted the importance of research into suitable crops and agrivoltaic models for India's 15 agro-climatic zones.

6. The way forward

• Develop pilot projects across different agro-climatic regions.
• Design panel height and spacing according to local crops.
• Provide accessible financing for small and marginal farmers.
• Encourage collaboration among agricultural scientists, energy companies and farmer organisations.
• Independently assess the economic and environmental impacts of projects.

UPSC Mains Question: “Agrivoltaics offers a potential pathway to balance food security and energy security in India.” Examine its opportunities and challenges.

3. GRAP Stage-I Implemented in Delhi-NCR: Air Pollution Control

1. Why is it in the news?

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) issued an order on 21 October 2026 implementing Stage-I of the Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP) in Delhi-NCR in response to deteriorating air quality.

According to the reported figures, Delhi's Air Quality Index (AQI) stood at 223 on 22 October, placing it in the poor category.

2. What is GRAP?

GRAP stands for the Graded Response Action Plan. It is a framework for implementing progressively stricter pollution-control measures in Delhi-NCR according to prevailing air quality.

The CAQM coordinates its implementation with the concerned state governments, local authorities and other agencies.

3. Four stages of GRAP

Note: This classification follows the revised GRAP framework. The applicable stage and measures should be confirmed against the relevant official order.

4. Major measures under Stage-I

• Mechanical sweeping of roads and water sprinkling to control dust.
• Dust-control measures at construction sites.
• Proper management of construction and demolition waste.
• Enforcement of restrictions on open waste burning.
• Action against polluting vehicles and industrial units in accordance with applicable rules.

In September 2026, CAQM also approved a revised GRAP schedule that moved certain measures into earlier stages.

5. Major causes of air pollution in Delhi-NCR

1. Vehicular emissions.
2. Dust from construction activities.
3. Industrial emissions and diesel generators.
4. Smoke transported from stubble burning in surrounding regions.
5. Winter meteorological conditions, including low wind speeds and temperature inversions, which can trap pollutants close to the ground.

Stubble burning is one contributing factor, but Delhi's air pollution cannot be attributed to it alone. The contribution of different sources varies by location, season and weather conditions.

6. Institutional framework

• CAQM: Coordinates air-quality management and issues directions for Delhi-NCR and adjoining areas.
• CPCB: Monitors pollution and provides technical support on air quality at the national level.
• State Pollution Control Boards: Enforce industrial and other pollution-control regulations.
• Local bodies: Manage waste, clean roads and ensure compliance with construction-site rules.

7. The way forward

Short-term restrictions must be supported by sustained improvements in public transport, clean energy, construction-dust management, industrial monitoring and regional cooperation.

UPSC Mains Question: “Air pollution in Delhi-NCR is a regional, multi-source problem that cannot be solved through seasonal restrictions alone.” Discuss.

4. PM-DAKSH Scheme: Social Empowerment through Skill Development

1. Introduction

PM-DAKSH stands for Pradhan Mantri Dakshta Aur Kushalta Sampann Hitgrahi Yojana. It is a Central Sector Scheme launched in 2020–21 by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

Its objective is to improve the employability, income and self-employment opportunities of targeted social groups through skill development and vocational training.

2. Major beneficiaries

The scheme targets the following groups:

• Scheduled Castes (SCs).
• Other Backward Classes (OBCs).
• Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
• De-notified, Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Tribes (DNTs).
• Sanitation workers, including sanitation staff and waste pickers, among other eligible groups.

Under the scheme's published eligibility criteria, the general age range is 18–45 years. Income limits vary by beneficiary category. For example, the annual family income limit is generally below ₹3 lakh for eligible OBC and EWS beneficiaries, while specified categories, including SCs, DNTs and sanitation workers, are exempt from the income ceiling under the applicable guidelines. Applicants should verify the latest eligibility rules before applying.

3. Types of training provided

Upskilling and Reskilling

Improving existing skills or training workers to use new techniques and technologies.

Short-Term Training

Providing employment-oriented skills, digital literacy and vocational training based on market requirements.

Entrepreneurship Development

Building the skills needed to establish and manage small businesses and self-employment activities.

Training under the scheme is provided free of cost to eligible beneficiaries. The duration and curriculum depend on the relevant training programme and its prescribed standards.

4. Social significance of the scheme

Employment generation: The scheme helps targeted groups acquire skills relevant to labour-market requirements.

Economic empowerment: Training can create opportunities for regular employment and self-employment.

Social inclusion: It promotes the participation of disadvantaged communities in the formal economy.

Dignified livelihoods: Developing alternative occupational skills is particularly important for sanitation workers and other vulnerable groups.

5. Major challenges

• Ensuring actual employment after training.
• Extending quality training to rural and remote areas.
• Aligning courses with changing industry requirements.
• Maintaining training quality and credible certification.
• Monitoring beneficiaries' employment status and income over time.

6. The way forward

The success of PM-DAKSH should be assessed not merely by the number of people trained, but also by employment outcomes, income growth, the sustainability of self-employment and improvements in social mobility.

Linking training with industry, local labour markets, digital platforms and financial assistance can improve its effectiveness.

UPSC Mains Question: “The success of skill-development schemes depends more on actual employment outcomes than on the availability of training.” Discuss with reference to PM-DAKSH.

5. Shamonda Virus: First Reported Human Infection

1. Why is it in the news?

On 22 October 2026, the European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) reported the first documented human infection with the Shamonda virus in France.

The infected person was severely ill and immunocompromised and died in early October.

Important clarification: Available information does not establish that the virus itself caused the death. Investigations into the route of infection and its possible role in the patient's illness are ongoing. At present, a wider public-health risk to the general population has not been identified.

2. What is the Shamonda virus?

• It belongs to the Orthobunyavirus group.
• It was first identified in Nigeria in the mid-1960s.
• Before the reported human case, it was primarily associated with animals, particularly cattle.
• It may be transmitted by small biting midges belonging to the genus Culicoides.
• During the summer of 2026, the virus was detected in animals in Europe, followed by the first reported human infection.

3. Why is the human infection significant?

The virus had not previously been established as a human pathogen. Therefore, this case is important for understanding possible links between animal infections and human health.

However, one reported human infection does not mean that the virus is spreading widely among humans.

Key questions under investigation include:

1. How did the infection occur in the human patient?
2. Is transmission to humans possible only under specific circumstances?
3. What is the potential risk to severely immunocompromised individuals?
4. Is enhanced surveillance of the virus in animals required?

4. Link with the One Health approach

One Health is an integrated approach that recognises the close relationship between human health, animal health and environmental health.

The Shamonda virus case illustrates the relevance of this approach because:

• Surveillance of infections in animals can help identify potential risks to humans.
• Monitoring insect vectors can help scientists understand the geographical spread of a pathogen.
• Information sharing among human-health, veterinary and environmental experts is essential.
• Early detection and laboratory investigation can support timely risk assessment.

5. Relevance for India

The reported case should not be interpreted as evidence that the Shamonda virus is spreading in India. Nevertheless, it highlights the importance of strengthening surveillance for emerging infections in animals and improving One Health systems.

India's priorities could include:

• Early reporting of unusual animal diseases.
• Better coordination between human and animal disease-surveillance systems.
• Strengthening laboratory testing capacity where required.
• Raising awareness among livestock farmers and veterinary professionals.
• Taking public-health measures based on scientific risk assessments.

6. Important facts for the examination

UPSC Mains Question: “The One Health approach is essential for preventing emerging infectious diseases.” Discuss with reference to the Shamonda virus case.