IAS PCS Mission 2026: Daily Study Material – 7 Feb 2026
NCERT History: Class 8 Chapter-11 (The Making of the National Movement: 1870s-1947)
This chapter, “The Making of the National Movement: 1870s–1947”, provides a comprehensive history of India’s struggle for independence, from the emergence of organized nationalism to the final achievement of freedom and the tragedy of Partition.
1. The Emergence of Nationalism
By the 1870s and 1880s, a new political consciousness emerged among Indians, who realized that British control over India’s resources and lives had to end for the country to belong to its people.
Political Associations and the Congress
- Early Associations: Political groups formed after 1850, such as the Poona Sarvajanik Sabha, Indian Association, and Madras Mahajan Sabha, were led by English-educated professionals who aimed to address Indian grievances.
- Foundation of the Congress: The Indian National Congress was established in December 1885 in Bombay with 72 delegates from across India.
- Early Leadership: Key early leaders included Dadabhai Naoroji, Pherozeshah Mehta, Badruddin Tyabji, and W.C. Bonnerji.
- Moderate Demands: For the first twenty years, the Congress was “Moderate,” seeking a greater voice for Indians in the government, civil service examinations in India, and the repeal of the discriminatory Arms Act.
The Rise of Radicalism and Swadeshi
- Radical Leaders: By the 1890s, leaders like Bipin Chandra Pal, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, and Lala Lajpat Rai (Lal-Bal-Pal) began exploring more radical objectives, emphasizing “self-reliance” and “constructive work” over the Moderates’ petitions.
- Tilak’s Slogan: Tilak raised the famous cry, “Freedom is my birthright and I shall have it!”.
- Partition of Bengal (1905): Viceroy Curzon partitioned Bengal for “administrative convenience,” which sparked the Swadeshi Movement.
- Impact of Swadeshi: This movement opposed British rule, encouraged self-help and Indian education, and advocated the boycott of British goods.
2. The Advent of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi returned to India from South Africa in 1915, having successfully led non-violent protests against racial restrictions there.
Mass Mobilization and Rowlatt Satyagraha
- Early Campaigns: Gandhi spent his first year traveling and later led local interventions in Champaran, Kheda, and Ahmedabad.
- Rowlatt Act (1919): This act allowed the government to curb fundamental rights such as freedom of expression.
- The Satyagraha: Gandhi called for a day of “humiliation and prayer” and a general strike (hartal) against the act, marking the first truly all-India struggle.
- Jallianwala Bagh Massacre: British atrocities in Amritsar on Baisakhi day led to a national outcry, prompting Rabindranath Tagore to renounce his knighthood.
Non-Cooperation and Khilafat
- Khilafat Movement: Led by Mohammad Ali and Shaukat Ali, it sought to protect the Turkish Caliphate.
- Non-Cooperation (1920): Gandhi merged Khilafat and the demand for Swaraj into a massive movement where Indians boycotted British schools, law courts, and foreign cloth.
- End of the Movement: Gandhi called off the struggle in 1922 following the Chauri Chaura incident, where a mob burned a police station, killing 22 policemen.
3. The Path to Purna Swaraj and Civil Disobedience
Following the mid-1920s, the national movement gained further momentum through constructive work in villages and new political shifts.
- The Simon Commission (1927): Indians boycotted this all-British commission sent to decide India’s political future.
- Purna Swaraj (1929): Under Jawaharlal Nehru’s presidency, the Congress resolved to fight for “Complete Independence”.
- The Salt March (1930): Gandhi marched from Sabarmati to Dandi to break the salt law, which gave the state a monopoly and taxed a basic necessity.
- Government of India Act 1935: This act provided for provincial autonomy, and the Congress won elections in 7 out of 11 provinces in 1937.
4. Quit India and the Road to Freedom
The final phase of the struggle occurred against the backdrop of the Second World War.
- Quit India Movement (1942): Gandhi launched this movement with the slogan “Do or Die” (Karo ya maro), leading to widespread rebellion despite severe British repression.
- The INA: Subhas Chandra Bose established the Indian National Army (Azad Hind Fauj) to free India with external support.
- Negotiations: After the war, the British held talks with the Congress and the Muslim League. However, the League insisted on a separate nation for Muslims.
5. Independence and the Tragedy of Partition
The joy of independence was marred by the violence of the country’s division.
- Failure of Diplomacy: The 1946 Cabinet Mission failed to create a unified framework, leading the Muslim League to call for “Direct Action Day” on August 16, 1946.
- Partition (1947): India gained independence but was split into India and Pakistan.
- Human Cost: Millions were displaced, and over a million people were killed in the communal riots following the division.
The Making of the National Movement
Rowlatt Act
1919 ‘Black Act’ that curbed fundamental rights like freedom of expression.
Salt March
240-mile journey to Dandi to break the state monopoly on a basic necessity.
Azad Hind Fauj
The Indian National Army (INA) established by Subhas Chandra Bose.
⚖️Indian Polity: Parliamentary Committees” (PAC, Estimates, etc.)
Parliamentary Committees are the “Eyes and Ears” of the Parliament. Since the Parliament is a large body with limited time, it cannot scrutinize every legislative and executive action in detail. This work is delegated to committees, which operate in a non-partisan manner.
Parliamentary Committees: The Scrutinizers of Democracy
There are two types of committees:
- Standing Committees: Permanent, reconstituted every year.
- Ad Hoc Committees: Temporary, created for a specific task and dissolved once the task is completed.
1. Financial Committees
A. Public Accounts Committee (PAC)
- Established: First set up in 1921 (Government of India Act, 1919).
- Composition: 22 Members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha).
- Term: 1 Year.
- Role: To examine the audit reports of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG).
- Key Feature: A Minister cannot be elected as a member. Since 1967, the Chairman is usually from the Opposition.
- Memory Trick: Known as the “Twin Sister” of the Estimates Committee.
B. Estimates Committee
- Established: On the recommendation of John Mathai (1950).
- Composition:30 Members (All 30 are from Lok Sabha only).
- Note: Rajya Sabha has no representation here.
- Role: To suggest “economies” in public expenditure. It is often called a ‘Continuous Economy Committee’.
- Key Feature: It is the largest Parliamentary Committee.
C. Committee on Public Undertakings (COPU)
- Established: On the recommendation of the Krishna Menon Committee (1964).
- Composition: 22 Members (15 from Lok Sabha and 7 from Rajya Sabha).
- Role: To examine the reports and accounts of Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs).
2. Departmental Standing Committees (DRSCs)
- Total: There are 24 Departmental Standing Committees.
- Composition: Each committee consists of 31 members (21 from Lok Sabha and 10 from Rajya Sabha).
- Role: Their main job is to secure the accountability of the Executive to the Parliament, particularly in the examination of Demands for Grants before they are voted on in the Lok Sabha.
3. Other Important Committees
| Committee | Purpose |
| Business Advisory Committee | Regulates the program and time table of the House. |
| Committee on Subordinate Legislation | Examines whether the Executive is exercising its power to make “Rules and Bylaws” within the limits delegated by Parliament. |
| Ethics Committee | Maintains discipline and decorum by examining cases of misconduct by members. |
| Privileges Committee | Examines cases of “Breach of Privilege” of the House or its members. |
Comparison of Financial Committees
| Feature | PAC | Estimates Committee | COPU |
| Members | 22 (15 LS + 7 RS) | 30 (All LS) | 22 (15 LS + 7 RS) |
| Chairman | Usually Opposition | Usually Ruling Party | Appointed by Speaker |
| Function | Post-mortem of expenditure | Suggests efficiency/economy | PSU Audit |
| CAG Link | Works closely with CAG | No direct link | Examines CAG reports on PSUs |
Scrutinizers of Democracy
Business Advisory
Regulates the program and time table of the House. Chaired by the Speaker/Chairman.
Subordinate Leg.
Ensures the Executive makes “Rules & Bylaws” only within the limits delegated by Parliament.
Ethics & Privileges
Examines member misconduct and cases of “Breach of Privilege” to maintain House decorum.
“The Hindu” Editorial Analysis (7-February-2026)
Here is a detailed analysis of the The Hindu Editorials for February 7, 2026, categorized by syllabus relevance for UPSC preparation.
1. Distressing Regularity: The Meghalaya Rat-Hole Mine Blast
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Environment; Conservation; Disaster Management) and GS Paper 2 (Governance).
Context: An explosion in an illegal rat-hole coal mine in Meghalaya’s East Jaintia Hills on February 5 killed at least 18 workers (toll later rose to 25), highlighting the failure of governance and judicial bans.
Key Points:
- Systemic Failure: The tragedy serves as a “grim reminder” that court supervision (such as the 2014 NGT ban) cannot substitute for effective state governance.
- Operational Norms: Rat-hole mining persists because it requires minimal investment but lacks engineered roofs and side-wall protections, making collapses frequent.
- Accountability Deficit: Fragmented ownership and private landholdings allow operators to keep workers off formal records and underreport accidents.
- Supply Chain Laundering: Illegal coal is easily “laundered” into legitimate markets through intermediaries, making it difficult to separate from auctioned or legacy coal.
UPSC Relevance: Essential for “Environmental Governance,” “Internal Security Challenges (Northeast),” and “Sustainable Mining Policy.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Technology as a Deterrent: The editorial advocates for mandatory GPS tracking for coal carriers, drone patrols, and satellite imagery to increase the “expected cost” of illegal transport.
- Displacing Incentives: Bans often fail without alternatives; the state must provide credit and market linkages for sectors like horticulture, tourism, and small manufacturing to absorb mining labor.
- Administrative Reform: To counter local patronage, the editorial suggests rotating administrative postings in hotspot districts and sharing penalties with local bodies to incentivize community monitoring.
2. ‘Hop-on, Hop-off’: The State of Global Climate Governance
Syllabus: GS Paper 3 (Environment; Conservation; Climate Change) and GS Paper 2 (International Relations).
Context: A critical look at the structural drift in global climate negotiations following COP30, where processes have multiplied but real action has stalled.
Key Points:
- Politics of Science: Scientific certainty is being repurposed by politicians to justify delay and argue that decisive action is perpetually “not yet.”
- The “Global Mutirão” Package: COP30 delivered a package emphasizing cooperation, but its measures remain largely voluntary, weakening the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities.”
- Finance Gap: Current climate flows for developing countries are under $400 billion per year, while actual needs exceed $2.4 trillion to $3 trillion.
- Market Opportunism: In the absence of government action, markets are driving the climate economy based on short-term profits rather than long-term planetary consequences.
UPSC Relevance: Vital for “Global Environmental Politics,” “UNFCCC and COP Outcomes,” and “Climate Finance.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Universal Legitimacy: Despite its flaws and “theatrical ambition,” the UNFCCC remains the only universally legitimate forum for coordinated action; alternatives like G-20 or BRICS lack the necessary legal architecture.
- Adaptation Stagnation: While COP30 pledged to “triple” adaptation finance, the lack of a baseline year or binding sources leaves the promise effectively aspirational.
- Structural Drift: The editorial warns of a “vacuum” where national interest overrides global urgency, noting that while one can “hop off” a negotiation platform, one cannot “hop off the planet.”
3. The India-EU Trade Deal: A Strategic Turning Point
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (Bilateral, regional and global groupings and agreements involving India; International Relations).
Context: Analysis of the recently concluded trade agreement between India and the European Union, which marks a shift from mere commercial interests to a broad strategic realignment.
Key Points:
- Geopolitical Inflexion: Driven by the “Donroe Doctrine” (U.S. commercial offensives) and threats from China and Russia, the deal aims to stabilize a conflictual international order.
- Summit Diplomacy: The breakthrough is attributed to 10 years of high-level engagement and frank exchange that built mutual trust between New Delhi and Brussels.
- Strategic Multipolarity: The partnership delivers a “rare opportunity” to give practical meaning to multipolarity, providing a democratic alternative for growth and security.
- Supply Chain Resilience: Cooperation on semiconductors, AI, and digital public infrastructure aims to reduce mutual vulnerabilities.
UPSC Relevance: Critical for “India-EU Relations,” “Strategic Autonomy,” and “Global Value Chains.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Beyond Tariffs: If confined only to market access, the partnership remains tactical; it must be “fleshed out” in defense, energy, technology, and mobility.
- Maritime Stability: There are growing opportunities for joint military exercises and information sharing to ensure freedom of navigation in the Indo-Pacific.
- Social Depth: Frictions over visas and professional recognition must be addressed to translate political alignment into societal depth through the mobility of students and researchers.
4. Cycles of Revolt: The Balochistan Security Crisis
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (International Relations; India and its neighborhood; Effect of regional policies).
Context: Coordinated attacks by the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) in late January 2026 emphasize the deepening cycle of violence in Pakistan’s largest province.
Key Points:
- Deepening Alienation: State crackdowns and counterinsurgency campaigns, involving enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings, have fueled the very insurgency they seek to crush.
- Resource Conflict: Baloch nationalists argue that projects like the $60-billion CPEC proceed with minimal transparency and limited economic benefit for local communities.
- The India Bogey: Islamabad’s tendency to reflexively blame India for unrest without verifiable evidence is described as a narrative that avoids necessary introspection.
- Militant Regrouping: Deteriorating conditions along the Afghan border have allowed Baloch rebels and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to intensify operations.
UPSC Relevance: Significant for “Neighborhood Dynamics,” “Regional Security Architecture,” and “Human Rights.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Reactive Reprisals: The editorial notes that the military killing of 150 fighters following a BLA attack is unlikely to produce lasting security without political reconciliation.
- Path to Stability: Peace requires addressing long-standing grievances of economic exclusion and opening channels for dialogue even with rebel groups.
5. Ground Zero: A Murder for a Panchayat Dream
Syllabus: GS Paper 2 (Governance; Welfare schemes; Important aspects of governance) and GS Paper 1 (Social Issues).
Context: A tragic case in Telangana where a father allegedly killed his daughter to bypass Maharashtra’s “two-child rule” so his wife could contest local elections.
Key Points:
- The Two-Child Norm: Imposed by several states in the 1990s as a population control measure, the rule disqualifies candidates with more than two children from contesting local body polls.
- Perverse Incentives: The case highlights how stringent eligibility criteria can create extreme, unintended consequences for vulnerable members of a family.
- Institutional Barriers: The accused initially attempted to give his son up for adoption to bypass the norm, but found hospital records were a roadblock.
UPSC Relevance: Important for “Population Policy Impacts,” “Panchayati Raj Governance,” and “Ethics in Public Life.”
Detailed Analysis:
- Premeditated Nature: Investigations revealed the murder was carefully planned, with the accused masking his face and leaving his phone behind to avoid tracking.
- Accountability vs. Rights: While the rule was intended to ensure accountability among representatives, the editorial/report suggests it can lead to social distortions when political ambition intersects with legal barriers.
Editorial Analysis
FEBRUARY 07, 2026Finance gap exceeds $2.4 Trillion. While COP processes multiply, real action stalls as national interests override global urgency.
A strategic alternative to the Donroe Doctrine. Deal aims to stabilize the order via semiconductors, AI, and maritime domain awareness.
Telangana tragedy highlights how Stringent Eligibility for local polls creates extreme, unintended social distortions for vulnerable families.
Perverse Incentives
Mapping:
Todays mapping notes focus on a significant Cartographic Shift in diplomacy, New Marine Species discovery, and the emergence of New Wildlife Points in the Deccan.
1. Cartographic Diplomacy: The India-US Trade Map
A major diplomatic event on February 7, 2026, involved a “message via maps.” The US Trade Representative (USTR) released a map alongside the India-US Interim Trade Agreement that has significant territorial implications.
- Strategic Shift: The official US map depicts the entirety of Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh (including PoK and Aksai Chin) as part of India.
- Mapping Significance: This departs from the long-standing US practice of using dotted lines or annotations for disputed territories. It is being viewed as a “symbolic diplomatic signal” aligning with India’s 1994 Parliamentary Resolution.
- Point for your Users: Locate Aksai Chin (Northeastern Ladakh) and PoK—emphasize that for the first time in a major US policy document, these are shown as undivided Indian territory.
2. Marine Geography: New ‘Bio-Warrior’ Species (West Bengal)
Researchers from the Zoological Survey of India (ZSI) uncovered two new marine worm species (polychaetes) in the Bay of Bengal ecosystem.
- Location: The mudflats and mangrove areas of the West Bengal coast.
- Species Names:
- Namalycastis solenotognatha (Named for its “channeled jaw” structure).
- Nereis dhritiae (Named after ZSI’s first woman director, Dhriti Banerjee).
- Ecological Mapping: These species are adapted to extreme, sulfide-rich, and polluted environments, acting as indicators of ecosystem health in the Sundarbans and surrounding mudflats.
3. Arachnid Discovery: Titanidiops Kolhapurensis
A new species of “Trapdoor Spider” has been documented in the Western Ghats region of Maharashtra.
- Location: Kolhapur district, Maharashtra.
- Mapping Context: Trapdoor spiders are unique because they live in burrows with “trapdoors” made of soil and silk. This discovery adds to the biodiversity mapping of the Northern Western Ghats, a region already famous for high endemism.
4. Strategic Infrastructure: The Shinku La and Sela Connections
While under construction, the progress reported on February 7 highlights the “Strategic Tunnel Map” of India.
- Shinku La Tunnel: Connects Lahaul Valley (HP) with Zanskar Valley (Ladakh). Once finished, it will be the world’s highest tunnel at 15,800 ft.
- Sela Tunnel: Provides all-weather connectivity to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh, bypassing the high-altitude Sela Pass which often closes due to snow.
Summary Mapping Checklist
| Category | Mapping Highlight | Key Location |
| Territorial Map | Undivided J&K/Ladakh | India-US Trade Framework Map |
| Marine Discovery | Nereis dhritiae | West Bengal Mudflats |
| Deccan Discovery | Titanidiops Kolhapurensis | Kolhapur, Maharashtra |
| Strategic Border | Tawang Connectivity | Sela Tunnel, Arunachal |
Mapping Brief
CARTOGRAPHIC DIPLOMACY & BIODIVERSITYTwo new marine worm species, including Nereis dhritiae, identified in West Bengal. Adapted to sulfide-rich polluted environments, they act as critical ecosystem indicators.
Mapping the Shinku La (15,800ft) connecting Lahaul to Zanskar, and the Sela Tunnel providing vital 365-day all-weather access to Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh.
The discovery of new polychaetes in the Sundarban Mudflats reinforces the importance of mapping mangroves as resilient biological frontiers.