Prelims Mantra – (17/01/2026)

International Developments

India’s BRICS 2026 Presidency:

• • Context: India assumed the annual presidency of BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa) for 2026, with the summit planned in India. The presidency sets the agenda for cooperation on geopolitics, economy, innovation and multilateralism at a time of global power shifts.
  • BRICS is a bloc comprising major emerging economies aimed at cooperation on economic and geopolitical issues.
  • India’s 2026 BRICS theme focuses on resilience, innovation, cooperation and sustainable development.
  • Presidency gives India a platform to shape discussions on a multipolar world order and reform of global governance institutions.
  • Challenges include balancing interests of divergent members (e.g., China & Russia) without compromising strategic autonomy.
  • BRICS expansion in recent years has increased membership beyond original five nations.
  • India aims to push cooperation on trade, digital economy, energy transition and climate finance.
  • BRICS New Development Bank (NDB) plays a role in infrastructure and sustainable finance.
  • Presidency builds India’s diplomatic profile ahead of G20 and other multilateral engagements.

(TH)

Japan Calls India a “Natural Partner”:

• • Context: Japan publicly reinforced its strategic view of India as a natural partner in an uncertain global order, highlighting shared interests in economic security, resilient supply chains, and Indo Pacific cooperation.
  • Japan recognises India as a key partner amid geopolitical and economic uncertainties.
  • Shared concerns include economic security, diversified supply chains, and tech cooperation.
  • Both are members of Quad along with the US and Australia.
  • Strategic cooperation spans trade, defense, tech and infrastructure.
  • Japan and India collaborate in critical mineral access and semiconductor supply.
  • Naval and maritime cooperation in the Indo Pacific is a shared priority.
  • The partnership helps balance regional strategic influence, especially vis à vis China.
  • High level dialogues and defense exchanges enhance bilateral trust.

(ANI)

Economy

National Startup Day 2026 marks 10 years of Startup India:

• • Context: India marked National Startup Day 2026 (On 16 Jan 2026), celebrating a decade of the Startup India initiative that transformed the country into the world’s third largest startup ecosystem.
  • Startup India launched in 2016 to foster innovation and entrepreneurship.
  • India now hosts over 2 lakh DPIIT recognized startups.
  • Startups have generated millions of direct and indirect jobs.
  • Nearly half of startups are now women led and many from Tier II/III cities.
  • Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) invests through SIDBI to support growth.
  • India is among the top three startup ecosystems globally.
  • The initiative supports innovation across sectors, including deep tech and manufacturing.
  • Policy reforms like the Jan Vishwas Act reduced compliance burdens.

(PMO+TOI)

World Economic Forum Global Risks Report 2026:

• • Context: The World Economic Forum’s Global Risks Report 2026 highlighted geoeconomic conflicts as the top global risk, a shift showing that economic competition and related disputes now pose systemic threats to stability, growth and cooperation.
  • The WEF Global Risks Report ranks and analyses long term global risks that impact nations, businesses and societies.
  • Geoeconomic conflicts – tensions arising from trade, tech competition, sanctions and economic coercion – now top the risk list.
  • This marks a shift from traditional geopolitical risk focus towards economic statecraft and economic weaponization.
  • Rising protectionism, bilateral tariffs, and export controls contribute to economic fragmentation.
  • Disruptions in global supply chains, especially for critical tech and resources, amplify vulnerability.
  • The report signals that economic instability could trigger financial, social and political stresses globally.
  • Climate, cyber and technological risks remain high on the agenda alongside geoeconomic tensions.
  • The emphasis on economic competition underscores importance of resilient and diversified economic policies.

(WEF+TH)

Geography, Mapping, Ecology & Environment

Race for Rare Earth Minerals in Green Transition:

• • Context: As the world pushes a green energy transition, demand for rare earth minerals – critical for EV motors, wind turbines and electronics has sparked a global competitive pursuit for supply and strategic access.
  • Rare earth elements (REEs) are essential for clean technologies including electric vehicles (EVs), wind turbines, batteries and semiconductors.
  • The transition from fossil fuels to green energy increases dependence on these minerals.
  • China currently dominates rare earth mining and processing, creating supply vulnerabilities.
  • Other countries, including India and Japan, are pursuing supply diversification and partnerships.
  • Environmental concerns accompany deep sea or land mining, raising sustainability questions.
  • Strategic alliances and trade deals are forming to secure long term supplies.
  • Policy support is needed for recycling, alternative materials and responsible sourcing.
  • Rare earth access is now a critical component of economic security in energy and defense sectors.

(Renewable energy magazine)

History, Art & Culture

Jaipur Literature Festival 2026:

• • Context: The Jaipur Literature Festival 2026 commenced on 16 Jan, bringing together global thinkers, authors, and policymakers for debates on literature, culture and socio political discourse.
  • JLF is one of the world’s largest literary festivals.
  • It fosters cross cultural dialogue and intellectual exchange.
  • Participants include writers, political figures, journalists and artists.
  • The festival acts as a platform for contemporary issues on society and democracy.
  • Themes often intersect with human rights, history, and technology.
  • Cultural diplomacy builds India’s soft power.
  • Intellectual debate fosters deeper public understanding of global challenges.
  • Festival proceedings include panel discussions, workshops and readings.

(TOI)

Miscellaneous

Major Global Outage – X & Grok Platforms:

• • Context: On 16 Jan 2026, major global outage impacted social media platforms X (formerly Twitter) and AI chatbot Grok, highlighting digital vulnerability and dependency on tech infrastructure.
  • Thousands of users worldwide faced service disruptions.
  • Platforms like X and Grok are central to global digital communication.
  • Outages revealed risks of concentrated digital platforms.
  • Downtime affects information flows, business operations and governance communication.
  • Prompted discussions on digital resilience and redundancy.
  • Regulatory focus on tech accountability and user data integrity may intensify.
  • Highlights integration of AI services into daily workflows.
  • Potential policy responses include stronger service level requirements.

(TET+HT)