Daily Current Affairs 11 September 2026 – IAS Current Affairs
Current Affairs 11 September 2026 focuses on the Prelims-Mains perspective. Major events are :
BRICS: Relevance For India And Global South
Source: Indian Express
GS II: Important International Institutions, Agencies and Fora- their structure, mandate
Overview
- BRICS has emerged as an important platform for the Global South, seeking greater representation of emerging economies in global governance and promoting a more multipolar world.
- The grouping faces several challenges, including internal differences, China’s growing influence, India-China tensions and the limited capacity of institutions such as the NDB and CRA.
- BRICS offers India strategic and economic opportunities, particularly in advancing Global South interests, promoting development cooperation and acting as a bridge between the West and developing countries.
- India’s approach should be based on multi-alignment, using BRICS to pursue strategic autonomy while continuing to deepen economic, technological and investment ties with Western countries.
Why in the News?
India is hosting the18th BRICS Summit on September 12-13 and is chairing the grouping. The upcoming summit has revived the debate on whether BRICS remains strategically relevant for India and whether it can strengthen India’s role as a leading voice of the Global South.
News in Brief
- BRICS has evolved from a grouping of emerging economies into a broader platform for cooperation among countries of the Global South.
- Its major achievements include the creation of the New Development Bank (NDB) and the Contingent Reserve Arrangement (CRA).
- Critics, however, point to internal differences, China’s dominant economic position and the limited capacity of BRICS institutions.
- For India, BRICS presents both an opportunity and a challenge: it can strengthen India’s voice in global affairs, but it cannot replace India’s growing economic and strategic engagement with the West.
Key Concerns
- One of the major criticisms is that BRICS has not been able to translate its political statements into concrete outcomes on issues important to India.
- For instance, BRICS declarations have supported the aspiration of India and Brazil to play a greater role in the United Nations.
- However, this has not resulted in an explicit and unified endorsement of India’s permanent membership of the UN Security Council.
- Differences among members, including the representation of Africa, have further complicated the issue.
- The same concern applies to BRICS-led financial institutions.
- The New Development Bank, in which India has made a significant contribution, has financed around 120 sustainable infrastructure projects worth nearly $39 billion.
- While this is a notable achievement, the bank remains much smaller than established institutions such as the World Bank.
- The NDB has therefore added another source of development finance but has not yet emerged as a comparable alternative to the traditional multilateral financial system.
- Similarly, the Contingent Reserve Arrangement, created in 2014 as a financial safety mechanism for BRICS countries, has seen limited practical use.
- India committed around $18 billion to the arrangement, but the facility has not become a major instrument for addressing financial crises among member countries.
The China Factor
- For India, the most complicated aspect of BRICS cooperation is its relationship with China.
- BRICS brings India and China together on several global issues, but the two countries continue to have serious bilateral differences.
- India faces concerns relating to border tensions, a large trade deficit, supply-chain dependence and access to critical materials such as rare-earth magnets.
- China’s economic weight also creates an imbalance within BRICS.
- Its economy is considerably larger than that of most of the other members, raising concerns that the grouping could increasingly reflect Chinese priorities.
- This creates a fundamental contradiction for India.
- BRICS offers a useful forum for cooperation with China and other emerging powers, but India must simultaneously ensure that the grouping does not become dominated by any single country.
- The diversity of political systems, economic interests and foreign policy priorities among BRICS members makes this balancing act even more difficult.
BRICS and Major Geopolitical Conflicts
- The grouping includes countries with sharply different positions on major international issues.
- Russia’s war in Ukraine, tensions in West Asia and growing geopolitical rivalry among major powers have exposed these differences.
- BRICS may provide a platform for dialogue, but dialogue alone does not always produce common action.
- The grouping’s ability to influence global affairs will ultimately depend on whether its members can move beyond broad declarations and find common ground on difficult political questions.
Relevance of BRICS
- Despite limitations, dismissing BRICS as irrelevant would be premature.
- The grouping has become an important platform for countries that believe the existing global order does not adequately reflect contemporary economic and political realities.
- Over the last two decades, BRICS has moved beyond being merely a grouping of large emerging economies.
- It increasingly represents the concerns of countries seeking greater influence in international decision-making.
- For many developing countries, institutions created after the Second World War continue to reflect an older distribution of global power.
- Representation in the UN Security Council, voting power in international financial institutions and the ability of developing countries to shape global rules remain important concerns.
- BRICS provides an additional platform to raise these issues and coordinate the positions of countries from the Global South.
BRICS and the changing global order
- BRICS is often portrayed as being opposed to the West.
- However, its purpose is better understood as seeking a more multipolar and representative international order.
- The grouping does not necessarily seek to dismantle the existing global system.
- Instead, it wants greater space for emerging economies and developing countries within that system.
- Its broader principles include,
- Respect for sovereignty
- Non-interference in domestic affairs
- Greater multipolarity
- Reform of international institutions
- Stronger multilateralism
- Recognition of civilizational and cultural diversity.
- In this sense, BRICS is better seen as a reformist platform rather than a revolutionary alternative to the existing world order.
The role of the New Development Bank
- The New Development Bank remains one of the most tangible outcomes of BRICS cooperation.
- The bank was created to provide additional financing for infrastructure and sustainable development.
- It has financed projects across member countries and has expanded its membership beyond the original BRICS grouping.
- An important feature of the NDB is its growing emphasis on financing in local currencies.
- This could help reduce excessive dependence on major international currencies and limit the exchange-rate risks faced by borrowing countries.
- The NDB is also seen as offering development finance with fewer political conditionalities than some traditional lending institutions.
- However, its limitations are equally clear. Its lending capacity remains far below that of institutions such as the World Bank.
- Therefore, the NDB should currently be viewed as an additional source of development finance rather than a replacement for the existing financial architecture.
BRICS and Global Trade
- BRICS has also gained importance because of the growing economic weight of its members.
- According to the figures cited, the grouping accounts for more than 20% of global trade, while trade among BRICS countries has expanded significantly over the past two decades.
- This growth has been supported by:
- Expanding markets;
- Greater economic links among emerging economies;
- Resource complementarities;
- Strengthening supply chains; and
- Increased trade cooperation.
- The expansion of intra-BRICS trade shows that the grouping is not merely a political platform.
- Economic links among its members are becoming increasingly important.
Local Currencies and De-dollarisation
- Another important area of BRICS cooperation is the increasing use of local currencies in bilateral trade.
- Countries have begun exploring settlements in their domestic currencies, including trade arrangements involving Russia, China, Brazil, India and the UAE.
- Greater use of local currencies can reduce exposure to dollar liquidity shortages and limit the impact of changes in US monetary policy on developing economies.
- However, this does not mean that BRICS is close to launching a common currency.
- A common currency would require a far greater degree of economic and political integration.
- BRICS countries have different inflation levels, exchange-rate systems, monetary policies and economic structures.
- For this reason, local currency trade may continue to expand, while the creation of a common BRICS currency remains unlikely in the near future.
Relevance of BRICS for India
A Stronger voice of the Global South
- India can use BRICS to raise issues that directly affect developing countries, including,
- Development financing;
- Climate justice;
- Food and energy security;
- Debt concerns;
- Technology access; and
- Reform of global institutions.
- India’s leadership of the Global South can gain greater visibility through such platforms.
An opportunity to act as a bridge power
- India is in a unique position because it engages simultaneously with BRICS, the G20, the Quad, Western economies and developing countries.
- This gives India the ability to avoid choosing between competing geopolitical blocs.
- Instead, India can act as a bridge between the West and the Global South, while maintaining its strategic autonomy.
- This role could become increasingly important in a world marked by geopolitical fragmentation.
Cooperation in development and technology
- BRICS can also provide opportunities for cooperation in areas such as,
- Infrastructure;
- Digital technologies;
- Sustainable development;
- Climate action;
- Trade; and
- Financial cooperation.
- For India, these areas may offer more practical benefits than attempting to turn BRICS into a rigid geopolitical alliance.
India’s Way Forward
- India should not view BRICS and the West as competing alternatives.
- Its national interests are better served by a policy of multi-alignment.
- India can use BRICS to strengthen strategic autonomy, promote the interests of the Global South and push for reforms in global governance.
- At the same time, India’s economic transformation will require deeper engagement with the United States, Europe and other advanced economies for investment, technology, markets and innovation.
- India should therefore:
- Continue pushing for reforms in global governance through BRICS;
- Strengthen the New Development Bank and other BRICS institutions;
- Promote practical cooperation in trade, technology and development;
- Guard against excessive dominance by any one member;
- Expand local currency settlement where economically beneficial;
- Continue deepening economic and technological ties with the West; and
- Use its position to act as a bridge between developed and developing countries.
Conclusion
BRICS has its limitations, but it remains relevant for India as a platform to advance the interests of the Global South and promote a multipolar world. India should use BRICS alongside stronger engagement with the West to pursue strategic autonomy and its long-term development goals.
UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question
With reference to BRICS, consider the following statements:
- The New Development Bank provides financing for infrastructure and sustainable development projects.
- The Contingent Reserve Arrangement is intended to provide liquidity support to member countries during financial stress.
- BRICS has established a common currency for trade among all its member countries.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Mains Practice Question
Q. BRISC reflects both the growing aspirations of the Global South and the contradictions of an emerging multipolar world. Critically examine the relevance of BRICS for India’s strategic and economic interests. (250 words)
Why Manipur Wants 1951 As NRC Base Year
Source: Indian Express
GS II: Government policies and interventions and issues arising out of their design and implementation, Federalism and issues relating to vulnerable and marginalized sections.
Overview
- Manipur seeks to use 1951 for an NRC exercise, linking it to the abolition of the earlier permit system and the first post-Independence Census and NRC.
- While Meitei and Naga groups support the exercise due to concerns over migration and future political representation, Kuki-Zo groups question the reliability of 1951 records and fear the exclusion of genuine indigenous communities.
- Implementing an NRC would require Central Government approval and would face difficulties related to old records, documentation gaps, displacement and the risk of wrongful exclusion.
- The issue requires balancing concerns over migration and internal security with constitutional safeguards, due process and the protection of indigenous communities and genuine long-term residents.
Why in the News?
Manipur Home Minister Govindas Konthoujam informed the State Assembly that 1951 would be pursued as the base year for updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Manipur.
News in Brief
- The demand is linked to the abolition of Manipur’s earlier permit system in November 1950 and the preparation of the first post-Independence Census and NRC in 1951.
- However, the State government cannot implement the NRC independently and requires approval from the Central Government.
- The issue has generated debate among different ethnic communities over migration from Myanmar following the 2021 military coup, indigenous identity, as well as the proposed 2027 Census and future delimitation.
Why is 1951 Important for Manipur?
Abolition of the Earlier Permit System
- Manipur had a permit system during the princely state period to regulate the entry of people from outside.
- This system was abolished on November 18, 1950.
- Those supporting the 1951 baseline argue that, after the removal of entry restrictions, 1951 became the first available point for assessing changes in Manipur’s population and migration patterns.
First Census and NRC after Independence
- The first Census of Independent India was concluded in 1951.
- An NRC was also prepared during this period, recording details such as, name, parentage, nationality, age, occupation and place of residence.
- For supporters of the demand, these records provide an important historical reference for examining demographic changes that took place later.
Concerns over Population Growth
- Supporters also point to Manipur’s population growth during the period- 12.08% in 1951, 35.04% in 1961.
- They argue that the sharp increase requires a closer examination of demographic changes following the removal of the permit system,
- However, an increase in population alone cannot be taken as proof of illegal immigration, as several other factors can influence population growth.
Historical Basis for the 1951 Demand
- The demand to use 1951 as a demographic baseline is not new.
- It has featured in agreements and discussions between the Manipur government and student organizations, including:
- Proceedings of Understanding in July and August 1980;
- An agreement in 1994; and
- The Manipur People’s Protection Bill, 2018.
Manipur People’s Protection Bill, 2018
- The Bill sought to regulate the entry and presence of people from outside Manipur. It classified as “non-Manipuris” those who were not:
- Meitei;
- Meitei-Pangal;
- Members of Scheduled Tribes; or
- Persons who could prove settlement in Manipur before 1951.
- The Bill was unanimously passed by the Manipur Assembly but did not become law.
Why did Assam use 1971 as the NRC Cut-Off?
Assam’s NRC process emerged from a different historical context.
Assam Movement
The Assam Movement (1979–85) against illegal immigration culminated in the Assam Accord, 1985, which established the following framework:
| Period of Entry | Status |
|---|---|
| Before January 1, 1966 | To be regularized |
| Between January 1, 1966 and March 24, 1971 | To be detected and registered |
| On or after March 25, 1971 | To be detected and expelled |
Thus, the 1971 cut-off resulted from Assam’s specific political and historical circumstances, particularly migration from erstwhile East Pakistan.
Manipur’s Argument
Supporters argue that Manipur’s circumstances are different and that 1951 is more relevant as it marks the period immediately after the abolition of the earlier permit system.
Why has the demand gained urgency now?
Migration from Myanmar
- The demand predates the Manipur ethnic violence.
- However, instability in Myanmar following the 2021 military coup has increased concerns about cross-border migration, adding an internal security dimension to the issue.
Census and Delimitation
- The proposed 2027 Census and future delimitation have increased the political significance of the demand.
- Meitei and Naga organizations argue that concerns over illegal immigration should be addressed before population figures are used for determining future political representation.
- They therefore seek completion of an NRC exercise before Census-based changes in representation.
Why are Kuki-Zo Groups Opposed?
Reliability of the 1951 Census
- Kuki-Zo organizations question the reliability of the 1951 records because many hill areas were remote, poorly connected and may not have been comprehensively enumerated.
- Consequently, communities inadequately recorded in 1951 could face exclusion despite their long-standing presence in the region.
Historical Cross-Border Communities
- Kuki, Zomi, and Chin communities have historically lived on both sides of the India-Myanmar border.
- Therefore, a verification process based on a 1951 baseline could disadvantage families unable to produce decades-old documentary evidence.
- For this reason, Kuki-Zo organizations have described an NRC exercise before the Census as premature.
Challenges in Implementing an NRC with 1951 as the Base Year
Availability of Historical Records
- A major challenge is the availability and reliability of records from 1951.
- Historical documents are not uniformly available, and the original NRC records may themselves be difficult to trace and verify.
- Documentation may also differ significantly between Manipur’s valley and hill regions.
Risk of Excluding Genuine Long-term Residents
- It may be difficult to distinguish between recent migrants and long-settled residents who cannot produce documents dating back to 1951.
- This raises concerns regarding fairness, due process and the possibility of wrongful exclusion.
Ethnic and Social Tensions
- The earlier attempt to use 1951 as a benchmark through the Manipur People’s Protection Bill, 2018 triggered protests in some areas, including Jiribam.
- Some communities feared that a strict historical cut-off could affect people who have lived in the region for generations but lack the required documentary evidence.
Centre-State Jurisdiction
- The Manipur government cannot independently implement an NRC.
- Since citizenship falls within the Union’s domain, the Central Government would need to approve and determine the legal framework.
- This would require clarity regarding,
- Documents accepted as proof
- Verification procedures
- Appeal mechanisms
- Safeguards against wrongful exclusion
Displacement and Loss of Documents
- The ongoing conflict in Manipur has displaced thousands of people.
- Displacement and the loss of identity or land records could make a documentation-based exercise more difficult and increase the risk of exclusion.
Key Issues involved
- Polity and Governance – The issue raises questions about citizenship verification, the NRC, Centre-State relations, the Union’s role in citizenship matters, and the possible impact of Census and delimitation on political representation.
- Social Justice- It highlights the need to protect indigenous communities and ethnic minorities while preventing documentation-based exclusion, particularly among people displaced by conflict.
- Internal Security- The issue is linked to concerns over illegal immigration, cross-border movement from Myanmar and the need for effective border management.
- Federalism- The Manipur debate highlights the difficulty of applying a uniform citizenship-verification framework in a country with diverse historical and social realities.
- Different regions may have different migration histories, ethnic compositions, levels of documentation and border-related challenges.
Way Forward and Conclusion
The Manipur NRC debate highlights the need to balance concerns over migration and demographic change with constitutional safeguards and the protection of indigenous communities and genuine long-term residents.
The way forward should involve a transparent and legally sound verification process, reliable documentation, region-specific safeguards, adequate appeal mechanisms and consultation with all communities, while strengthening border management and addressing genuine internal security concerns.
UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question
Consider the following statements regarding the proposed NRC exercise in Manipur:
- The Manipur government has proposed 1951 as the base year for updating the NRC in the State.
- Assam’s 1971 cut-off for identifying illegal migrants emerged from the political settlement represented by the Assam Accord.
- The Kuki-Zo Council supports the use of 1951 as the NRC baseline and has argued for completing the NRC before the Census.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a) 1 and 2 only
Mains Practice Question
Q, Discuss the challenges associated with managing illegal migration while protecting the rights and identity of indigenous and long-settled communities in India. Suggest measures to ensure a fair and inclusive verification process. (250 words)
Good Governance Through State, Society And Markets
Source: Indian Express
GS II: Governance, Social Justice, Local Government
Overview
- Better governance requires citizens and communities to play an active role in decision-making, implementation and monitoring, moving beyond a purely top-down administrative approach.
- Complex development challenges require cooperation among government institutions, local bodies, communities, civil society, professionals and market actors.
- Effective decentralization depends on adequate Funds, Functions and Functionaries, along with professional capacity, women’s agency, technology and community-based accountability.
- India’s next phase of development must address interconnected challenges through citizen-centric governance that combines public capacity, community participation, technology, professional expertise and accountability.
Why in the News?
A recent article by former civil servant Amarjeet Sinha highlights the need for a new model of governance in India based on decentralisation, community participation and collaboration between the State, society and markets.
News in Brief
- The article identifies six factors necessary for improving development outcomes at scale: decentralized community action, collaborative governance, women’s agency, technology, accountability and public trust, and professionals/community resource persons.
- It argues that local governments need greater authority, resources and professional support, while development outcomes should increasingly be validated by communities.
- The achievement of Viksit Bharat requires the State, civil society, communities and markets to work together to address complex and interconnected development challenges.
Community Participation and Better Governance
- Decentralized community action can make governance more effective, particularly when development challenges involve several social, economic and institutional factors.
- Local governments and municipalities that perform well often have one thing in common: citizens are actively involved in the development process.
- Such institutions usually encourage community participation, cooperation between government officials and citizens, and greater involvement of people in decision-making.
- This also creates a sense of ownership among communities and strengthens accountability.
- A collaborative approach is particularly useful in addressing local problems that may not be fully understood or resolved through a conventional top-down administrative system.
Lessons from India’s Development Programmes
- India’s development experience also shows the value of collaborative governance.
- Programmes that have successfully involved communities in planning and implementation have often achieved wider and more sustainable outcomes.
- National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM)
- The National Rural Livelihood Mission is an important example of this approach.
- Its success has been closely linked to the large-scale mobilization of rural women through self-help groups and community institutions.
- Decentralized management and community participation have enabled the programme to reach beyond conventional administrative structures, including at levels below the block.
- The participation of around 100 million women organized through nearly 10 million self-help groups reflects the scale of collective action created under the programme.
- Beyond improving livelihoods and financial inclusion, these institutions have given rural women a stronger voice in local development and community decision-making.
Lessons from high-performing cities
- The experience of high-performing municipalities also points to the importance of involving citizens in governance.
- Interactions with municipal commissioners associated with the Swachhata Sarvekshan rankings found that community participation and collaborative governance were among the common factors behind better-performing cities.
- Whether in sanitation, urban development or public service delivery, government efforts are more likely to succeed when citizens participate actively.
- People are not merely recipients of services; their involvement in maintaining, monitoring and improving these services can strengthen accountability and produce better outcomes.
Pillars of Transformative Governance
Women’s Collectives and Social Capital
- Women’s collectives have emerged as an important source of social capital in India.
- They help communities organize themselves, access public services and raise local concerns.
- Their involvement can also strengthen the accountability of local institutions.
- When communities, particularly women, have a greater role in development programmes, governance becomes more closely connected to the realities of people’s lives.
- Their participation can improve awareness, livelihoods, access to services and monitoring of public programmes.
Technology and Human Instituions
- Technology has added another dimension to governance.
- India’s Digital Public Infrastructure, Direct Benefit Transfers and expanding banking access have improved the reach of public services.
- However, technology cannot replace capable institutions or human engagement.
- Digital systems can make service delivery more efficient, but complex social problems still require trust, local knowledge and continuous interaction between citizens and public institutions.
Role of Professionals and Community Resource Persons
- Local governance systems require trained professionals who can improve planning, implementation and service delivery.
- At the same time, community resource persons and frontline workers can connect public institutions with citizens.
- ASHA workers, for example, demonstrate how locally embedded frontline workers can strengthen trust and accountability in primary healthcare.
- The combination of professional expertise and community-level engagement can make public systems more responsive.
Strengthening Local Governments
- For decentralization to work effectively, local governments require more than formal responsibilities.
- They need adequate Funds, Functions and Functionaries.
- Panchayats and urban local bodies require autonomy, clear responsibilities and sufficient administrative and professional capacity.
- The constitutional framework provided by the Eleventh Schedule for Panchayats (Article 243G) and the Twelfth Schedule for Municipalities (Article 243W) can become meaningful only when local institutions have the resources and capacity to perform their assigned functions.
Accountability and Community Validation
- Measuring development outcomes should not be limited to administrative data alone.
- Community feedback and validation are equally important in assessing whether public programmes are actually improving people’s lives.
- The Panchayat Advancement Index can help identify gaps in local development,
- However, identifying a development deficit should also be accompanied by adequate resources and institutional support to address it.
Challenges to Collaborative Governance
Complex Development Challenges
- Many households continue to face the risk of slipping back into poverty. Low-productivity jobs, inadequate wages and limited livelihood opportunities remain concerns in several parts of the country.
- Progress in some social indicators has also been uneven.
These are often described as “wicked problems” because they have multiple and interconnected causes. They require coordinated action across sectors such as education, health and nutrition.
Institutional Challenges
- Decision-making and financial resources often remain concentrated at higher levels, limiting the autonomy of local governments.
- Many Panchayats and urban local bodies also lack adequate skilled professionals, technical expertise and administrative capacity.
- Limited untied funds further increase their dependence on higher levels of government.
- Accountability is another concern, as administrative data may not always reflect the actual outcomes experienced by citizens.
- Short-term electoral and political considerations can also affect long-term institutional reforms.
- In addition, different government departments often work independently even when the issues they address are closely interconnected.
These challenges can weaken coordination and make collaborative governance difficult to implement effectively.
Way Forward and Conclusion
The vision of Viksit Bharat cannot be realized through government action alone. Complex development challenges require a partnership between the State, Society and Markets.
The good governance emerges when institutions are closer to citizens, communities participate in decision-making, women exercise greater agency, professionals strengthen implementation, technology enables inclusion and public systems remain accountable.
India’s next phase of development must therefore move from merely expanding government programmes to ensuring citizen-centric, decentralized, and collaborative governance that delivers quality outcomes at scale.
UPSC Prelims and Mains Practice Question
With reference to collaborative and decentralized governance in India, consider the following statements:
- The Eleventh Schedule of the Constitution relates to the powers and responsibilities of Panchayats.
- The Twelfth Schedule specifies subjects related to the powers and responsibilities of Municipalities.
- Effective decentralisation requires the transfer of Funds, Functions and Functionaries to local governments.
Which of the statements given above are correct?
(a) 1 and 2 only
(b) 2 and 3 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (d)
Mains Practice Question
Q. The complexity of contemporary development challenges requires a shift from centralized administration to decentralized and collaborative governance. Discuss in the context of India’s pursuit of Viksit Bharat. (250 words)
Daily Current Affairs: Click Here