In a significant development for UPSC aspirants, recent global and domestic policy shifts have created multiple important topics for both preliminary and mains examinations. The India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA) leaders' meeting, implementation of new labour codes, and discussions around a global compact on artificial intelligence present crucial study areas for serious candidates.
IBSA Summit: Strengthening Global South Cooperation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi's recent interaction with South Africa President Cyril Ramaphosa and Brazil President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva during the IBSA Leaders' meeting on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Johannesburg marked a pivotal moment in South-South cooperation. The meeting gained particular significance as it concluded four consecutive G20 presidencies held by Global South countries.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that IBSA represents more than just three countries - it connects three continents, three major democracies, and three significant economies. His statement that "IBSA is not just a group of three countries; it connects three continents, three major democracies and three major economies" underscores the forum's strategic importance.
The Prime Minister proposed several key initiatives during the meeting, including institutionalizing National Security Advisers-level dialogue between the three nations to combat terrorism with zero tolerance for double standards. He also suggested establishing an IBSA fund specifically for promoting climate-resilient agriculture and creating a digital innovation alliance to facilitate sharing of successful digital public infrastructure models.
UN Security Council Reforms and Climate Initiatives
Modi strongly advocated for United Nations Security Council reforms, stating that global institutions "do not represent today's world" and noting the absence of permanent UNSC representation for any IBSA member nation. He emphasized that institutional reform has transitioned from being an option to an absolute necessity in contemporary global governance.
The Prime Minister also highlighted the existing IBSA Fund's achievements, having supported approximately fifty projects across sectors like education, health, women's empowerment, and solar energy in forty developing nations. His proposal for a dedicated Climate Resilient Agriculture fund indicates India's commitment to sustainable development goals.
Global Compact on Artificial Intelligence
During the G20 summit sessions, Prime Minister Modi articulated India's vision for responsible artificial intelligence development, calling for a global compact on AI to prevent misuse while ensuring equitable access. India's approach to AI focuses on three fundamental pillars: access, skilling, and responsible deployment.
The proposed global compact would incorporate essential principles including effective human oversight, safety-by-design architecture, transparency in AI systems, and strict prohibitions on using AI for creating deepfakes, facilitating criminal activities, or supporting terrorist operations. Modi extended invitations to all G20 members for the AI Impact Summit scheduled in India during February 2026.
Under the India-AI Mission, the government is developing accessible high-performance computing infrastructure to ensure AI benefits reach every district and support all Indian languages. This initiative aims to provide both scale and speed to India's human development efforts through technological advancement.
New Labour Codes: Transformative Changes Implemented
After five years of parliamentary approval, the Indian government has implemented four comprehensive labour codes effective from November 21, 2025, replacing twenty-nine central labour laws. These codes aim to simplify regulations, ease compliance burdens for employers, and ensure uniform wage structures and social security protection for workers across sectors.
Key Features of Labour Reforms
The Code on Wages introduces a universal definition of 'wage' covering all employees regardless of industry, sector, wage level, or gender. It establishes a National Floor Wage as the baseline standard that all states must follow. The code limits deductions to 50% of total pay and mandates overtime wages at twice the normal rate for work beyond standard hours.
The Code on Social Security marks a historic inclusion by legally defining gig and platform workers for the first time. It establishes national registration and a social security fund for unorganized and gig workers. Aggregators are required to contribute 1-2% of their annual turnover toward social security, capped at 5% of amounts payable to gig workers.
Significantly, fixed-term employees become eligible for gratuity after one year of continuous service, a substantial improvement from the previous five-year requirement for permanent workers. This provision represents a major step toward equitable treatment for contractual workers.
COP30 Outcomes: India's Assertive Stance on Climate Justice
Following the COP30 climate meeting in Belem, Brazil, India demonstrated renewed assertiveness representing Like Minded Developing Countries (LMDCs). Indian negotiators clearly articulated that developed nations cannot impose their climate change agendas on developing countries and emphasized that attempts to undermine the Paris Agreement architecture would not succeed.
India reinforced the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, stating that emission reduction remains primarily the obligation of developed nations. Developing countries successfully incorporated two longstanding concerns into future COP discussions while preventing a fossil fuel phase-out roadmap in the final agreement.
The Belem Political Package established a two-year work program to discuss climate finance matters, including Article 9.1 of the Paris Agreement, which mandates developed countries to provide financial resources to developing nations. The final outcome also acknowledged concerns regarding unilateral trade measures like the European Union's Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM).
Air Pollution: The Invisible Public Health Emergency
Despite seasonal attention, air pollution remains a year-round public health crisis in India, particularly affecting northern regions. The disconnect between pollution's severe health impacts and its policy priority stems from several structural challenges, including its classification between environmental and biological domains and the invisible nature of both its sources and health effects.
Long-term exposure to PM2.5 particles links to numerous health conditions beyond respiratory illnesses, including new-onset hypertension, diabetes, neurological changes, and rising lung cancer incidence among non-smokers. Northern India experiences life expectancy reductions up to eight years due to persistent air pollution.
Current health data infrastructure limitations hinder effective pollution impact assessment. The National Outdoor Air and Disease Surveillance system, while progressive, remains in early development stages and captures only acute respiratory illnesses without advanced analytical capabilities for comprehensive health risk assessment.
Strategic Importance for UPSC Aspirants
These developments hold significant relevance across UPSC examination stages. The IBSA dialogue and UNSC reform discussions align with General Studies Paper II topics covering bilateral relations and international organizations. Labour code implementations connect with General Studies Paper III themes of economic development and employment generation.
Climate change negotiations and air pollution concerns span multiple papers, including environmental ecology and governance issues. Artificial intelligence and digital governance represent emerging areas with increasing examination relevance across preliminary and mains stages.
UPSC aspirants should focus on understanding the multidimensional aspects of these developments, including historical context, current implications, future directions, and interconnectedness with other policy areas. Previous years' questions indicate the commission's preference for analytical understanding rather than mere factual recall of such current affairs.
