23 JANUARY CURRENT AFFAIRS – SORTED NOTES

1. BRICS Plus Naval Exercise – “Will for Peace 2026”

Context

India decided not to participate in the BRICS Plus naval exercise “Will for Peace 2026”, stating that such drills are not institutionalised BRICS activities. This reflects India’s emphasis on strategic autonomy amid evolving geopolitics.

About BRICS Plus Naval Exercise

• Nature:
  
  • Host-led, non-institutionalised maritime drill
  • Conducted outside formal BRICS framework
• Participation: Voluntary, issue- and host-driven
• Host Nation: South Africa
• Venue: Off Simon’s Town (near Cape Town)

Participants

• Participating Navies: China, Russia, Iran, UAE, South Africa
• Observers: Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia
• Opted Out: India, Brazil (active participation)

Stated Aim

• Securing key shipping lanes and maritime economic activities
• Projected as Global South cooperation

Key Features

• Theme: Joint Actions for Maritime Security
• Operations: Counter-terrorism, anti-sea strike drills, SAR
• Dynamics: China-led coordination; sanctioned states involved
• Status: Not a formal BRICS exercise

Why India Opted Out

• Non-institutional nature of exercise
• Avoids defence bloc signalling
• China factor (border tensions, trust deficit)
• Participation alongside sanctioned states
• Preference for inclusive, rule-based maritime forums

International Relations Significance

• Highlights divergence within BRICS
• Prevents BRICS from appearing as an anti-West military bloc
• Reinforces India’s doctrine of economic multilateralism without military alignment

Static Add-on: BRICS vs BRICS Plus

Aspect	BRICS	BRICS Plus
Nature	Institutional grouping	Flexible outreach
Mandate	Economic cooperation	Issue/host-driven
Military drills	No mandate	Possible but informal
India’s stance	Active	Selective

Prelims Question

Correct Answer: (a) 2 and 3 only

2. The Perils of Integrating AI in Police Operations

Context

In January 2026, India expanded AI-driven policing through:

• Delhi Police’s Safe City Project
• Maharashtra Police’s MahaCrime OS AI

This marks a shift towards predictive policing and algorithmic decision-making.

AI Use in Indian Policing

• AI-enabled CCTV & facial recognition
• Predictive crime analytics
• Surveillance drones
• Powered by databases like CCTNS

Governance & Ethical Concerns

• Centralisation of policing power
• Weakening of community policing
• Institutionalisation of biases (caste, religion, class)
• Atmosphere of mass surveillance

Impact on Fundamental Rights

• Threat to privacy & dignity
• Chilling effect on free speech and protest
• Weakens due process
• Undermines presumption of innocence

Legal & Institutional Gaps

• No dedicated AI-policing law
• DPDP Act, 2023 provides exemptions to law enforcement
• No standardised AI Police Manual

Risks of Over-Reliance

• Wrongful detention due to faulty AI
• Errors scale rapidly across populations
• Loss of human discretion and empathy

Way Forward

• Statutory framework for AI policing
• Mandatory transparency & bias audits
• AI as assistive, not decision-making tool
• Strong privacy safeguards & police reforms

Conclusion

Unchecked AI in policing risks digital authoritarianism. Democratic policing must prioritise trust, accountability, and constitutional values.

3. India–UAE Pledge to Double Trade to $200 Billion

Why in News

India and UAE agreed to double bilateral trade to USD 200 billion by 2032, building on CEPA (2022).

Nature of Partnership

• Comprehensive Strategic Partnership
• Covers trade, energy, defence, space, infrastructure & culture

Key Dimensions

Trade

• Target: USD 200 billion by 2032
• Tariff liberalisation & services expansion

Energy

• USD 3 billion, 10-year LNG deal (ADNOC Gas – HPCL)
• India becomes UAE’s largest LNG customer

Defence & Security

• Move towards Strategic Defence Partnership
• Joint condemnation of terrorism

Space & Technology

• Joint space infrastructure development
• Supercomputing cluster in India

Investment

• UAE investments in Dholera SIR
• Expansion in GIFT City

Cultural Diplomacy

• Proposed House of India in Abu Dhabi

Strategic Significance

• Strengthens energy security
• Enhances West Asia engagement
• Boosts India’s global financial ambitions

Prelims Answer

Correct: (a) 1 and 2 only

4. Gaza Peace Board

What it is

A proposed US-led international body to supervise post-war Gaza governance and reconstruction.

Proposed By

• Donald Trump, USA
• Also proposed as inaugural Chairman with veto powers

Participants

• Invitations to ~60 countries
• Includes India, Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, Canada, Argentina

Objectives

• Post-war governance
• Reconstruction & investment mobilisation
• Ceasefire monitoring
• Transition from Hamas rule
• Economic revival

Significance

• Operates outside UN framework
• Raises concerns over sovereignty and power concentration
• Represents parallel global governance

5. Environmental Protection Fund

Why in News

Rules notified in January 2026 to operationalise the Environmental (Protection) Fund under Jan Vishwas Act.

What it is

A statutory fund to utilise environmental penalties for:

• Pollution control
• Environmental restoration
• Research & monitoring

Legal Basis

• Environment (Protection) Act
• Strengthened by Jan Vishwas Act, 2023

Nodal Authority

• Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change

Key Features

• Sources: Penalties under Air Act & EP Act
• 75% to States/UTs, 25% retained by Centre
• Used for 11 activities including clean tech & labs
• CAG audit & CPCB online portal

Significance

• Strengthens Polluter Pays Principle
• Ensures decriminalisation ≠ dilution
• Enhances Centre–State cooperation

Prelims Question

Correct Answer: (c) Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change