PSIR 101

The most repetitive PSIR themes from the past year of Current Affairs. Aspirants writing PSIR Mains this year must revise these thoroughly for the dynamic portion.✅ https://t.me/PSIRrevolution2026 1. Brexit (10 Years) and lessons for India 2. Future of US hegemony (250 years of American Independence) 3. 42nd CAA (50 Years) 4. From Look East to Act East to the Indo-Pacific 5. US Retreat from multilateral institutions and its impact on the Liberal International Order 6. BRICS 7. West Asian crisis 8. India’s Neighbourhood Policy (Pakistan, Bangladesh & Myanmar) 9. India’s Maritime Power/Strategy 10. Nuclear Order and India’s Nuclear Doctrine 11. India and the UNSC / UN Peacekeeping 12. India’s Strategic Autonomy 13. India–EU Relations 14. WTO 15. QUAD/BIMSTEC 16. SAARC 17. US and South Asia 18. Regional Parties and Federalism 19. Governor 20. Anti-Defection Law 21. G20 and the Global South 22. RIC and SCO 23. India–Israel Relations 24. NATO 25. India and Africa 26. A-LA-CARTE World Order 27. India and the G2 28. The Concept of “Chimerica” 29. RELOS (India–Russia) 30. Post-Neoliberal Consensus 31. Youth Uprisings in South Asia 32. Grassroots Democracy 33. Social Movements 34. Monroe/Donroe Doctrine 35. Latin America 36. Speaker 37. India-China Relations 38. Green Diplomacy For the static portion: Students who have diligently covered the 40 Years Comprehensive PYQ Notes are good to go. Note: PSIR Mains 2026 candidates who are not enrolled in the PSIR CA Comprehensive Course can request the comprehensive list of questions prepared from the past year’s Current Affairs using the Support ID given below. TG: @CSERevolutionSupport ✅

GRAMSCI , KAUTILYA, RAWLS JUSTICE , THEORY OF STATE , 2A - CHANGING INTL ORDER , RANDOM QUESTION IN COMPARATIVE POLITICS, WTO&IMF , GLOBAL SOUTH

Self-doubts creeping in With a few days left for CSM 2026, one doubts his/her capabilities. Whether the syllabus is completed, what if I’m not able to write anything at all, what if there’s a brain fade, what if i fail to complete the paper, what if, what if! I won’t give you any false impressions, i won’t even fill you with false positivity, i would like you to assess just these things- “Given the time you had, did you become a better candidate?” “Did you give your level best and atleast tried to cover all the grounds?” If the answer is yes, then it doesn’t matter what happens next! The answers will pour from your mental reason, you’ll be able to complete the paper decently. Wrote a bad answer, move ahead, don’t let it spill on the next one! Wrote a mediocre Gs paper? let it be, next one is waiting for you. You won’t be having time to repent for the loss (if there is any at the first place). Our mind brings out the worst parts and subdues the good parts when you get anxious. Don’t let that happen. It’s a part of the process. For next few days, don’t think that you’ll score this much or will get a top rank. Do what’s needed out of you: Give your honest attempt! Be your best self. “Let go of control you think you have in first place.” Hojayega, khayal rakho! ✨🌻

You can download your CIVIL SERVICES (Mains) 2026 e-Admit cards here:👇🏻👇🏻 https://upsconline.nic.in/

Csds Lokniti on whether relevance of regional parties is declining

Shashi tharoor on Turkey-saudi-pak partnership

Source - forumias

CURRENT AFFAIRS MASTERY PROGRAM 2027 By Aditya Sir (5 CSE Mains & 3 Interviews) Everything you need to master UPSC Current Affairs — organized, concise, and exam-oriented. What you get: • Monthly PIB magazine summary • Daily Current-affairs handwritten notes from newspapers • Monthly MCQs and recall sessions • Monthly typed newspaper current-affairs compilation • Indian Express UPSC Essentials, Yojana, and Kurukshetra summaries • Subject-wise compilation for Prelims and Mains Admission Open First 50 students: ₹999 After that: ₹1499 ▶️Enroll now: https://rzp.io/rzp/3IALVFHk 💥For queries, message us here @utkarshutkarsh0 ▶️Check samples here :-https://t.me/pibcurrentaffairsadityasir

Pillars of global south 1. DPI and India stack 2. Health and pharma leadership 3. Global Development compact 4. Climate justice and just transition #2B

India should draw lessons from the 1991 Balance of Payments (BoP) crisis to navigate today’s global disruptions caused by Ukraine, West Asia, energy insecurity, and great-power competition. The answer lies in strategic adaptation, not rigid ideology. Lesson 1: External Shocks Can Trigger Internal Transformation Lesson 2: Foreign Policy Must Be Pragmatic, Not Ideological Lesson 3: Build Resilience Against Future Disruptions Way Forward -Deepen economic reforms. -Strengthen energy and supply-chain resilience. -Pursue multi-alignment while preserving strategic autonomy. -Convert external crises into opportunities for institutional and economic transformation. “The enduring lesson of 1991 is that predictability is not an inheritance but a capability built through reform, resilience, and strategic adaptation.” C rajamohan #2B

Amitav Acharya Pundits and political scientists have long anticipated the end of the United States’ unipolar moment and the rise of a more multipolar order. Trump is often cited as an accelerant in this process. The reality is that he has given rise to something altogether different. The United States will remain the most economically and militarily powerful country in the world for several more years. But it will be absent from, if not actively hostile toward, the existing international order. This unique configuration is not multipolarity but rather the world minus one. https://foreignpolicy.com/2026/01/05/world-minus-one-united-states-isolationism-multilateralism-global-power/ #2A

PM describes India and Australia as vibrant democracies, multicultural societies and significant ocean powers- PM at third Ind Aus annual summit Launched PACTS - partnership on cyber critical infrastructure and supply chains ECTA Plans for CECA, BIT Ind Australia Defence innovation corridor Peaceful, stable, rules based and prosperous indo pacific. #2B

Deepening India–Japan Partnership offers a powerful, constructive model Shashi Tharoor The India–Japan relationship has evolved from a strategic partnership into a comprehensive civilisational and economic partnership. It offers a positive model for a stable, rules-based Indo-Pacific amidst geopolitical uncertainty. Why India–Japan partnership matters 1. Shared Strategic Vision Both support a Free, Open and Inclusive Indo-Pacific (FOIP). Believe in rule-based international order, freedom of navigation and peaceful dispute resolution. 2. Economic Complementarity Japan provides Capital, Advanced technology, Manufacturing expertise, High-quality infrastructure India provides Large market, Young workforce, Digital innovation, Growth potential 3. Defence & Security Cooperation Defence ties have expanded through: Military exercises, Maritime cooperation, Technology collaboration, Defence industrial partnerships, Important for maintaining balance in the Indo-Pacific. 4. Human Capital Partnership - demographic complementarity: Japan- Ageing population, Labour shortages, Need for skilled workers India- Young workforce, Large pool of professionals, Growing talent in technology and healthcare Suggestion: Create structured mobility and skill-recognition frameworks allowing Indian professionals to work in Japan. Innovation & Technology Joint collaboration should focus on: AI, Semiconductors, Green technology, Robotics, Digital manufacturing, Advanced infrastructure, Climate technologies Inclusive Development - Promote women’s participation. - Expand opportunities in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. - Build a strong middle class. - Generate quality employment. Growth should be inclusive, equitable and democratic, not merely GDP-centric. Wider Regional Significance - Build resilient supply chains. - Support ASEAN centrality. - Promote sustainable infrastructure. - Offer a democratic alternative to coercive development models. Challenges Language and cultural barriers for Indian professionals. Need for labour mobility agreements. Faster implementation of economic projects. Managing regional geopolitical competition. India–Japan partnership is strategic + economic + technological + demographic. It represents a constructive democratic model for the Indo-Pacific. Future priorities: Defence technology Semiconductor cooperation Supply-chain resilience Green transition Skilled workforce mobility Manufacturing collaboration Rules-based Indo-Pacific governance One-line conclusion The true success of the India–Japan partnership will lie not merely in strategic balancing, but in creating a shared ecosystem of technology, talent, democratic values and inclusive prosperity for the Indo-Pacific. #2B

Democratic lessons from Global South that our Opposition needs” By Yogendra Yadav Why Boycotting Elections is a Mistake Democracy requires competitive elections as a minimum condition (Adam Przeworski). Elections provide a peaceful mechanism for transfer of power. The relevant criterion is not whether elections are perfectly free and fair, but whether there is enough democratic space to expose unfairness and mobilise public opinion. Lessons from the Global South 1. Contest and Expose Simultaneously Opposition parties should: Participate in elections. Document electoral manipulation. Mobilise public opinion. Use campaigns to strengthen party organisation. 2. Build Long-Term Democratic Capacity Successful opposition movements invest in: Grassroots organisation. Leadership development. Volunteer networks. Voter outreach. Election monitoring. Electoral Integrity is Multi-Dimensional Important dimensions include: Campaign finance transparency. Equal media access. Freedom of assembly. Independent Election Commission. Fair constituency delimitation. Equal opportunity for opposition campaigning. Transparent vote counting. Lessons from Comparative Politics Drawing on Ayşe Barbara (How to Compete in Authoritarian Elections) and experiences from countries like Turkey, Venezuela, Serbia and South Africa, Opposition parties should: Contest elections despite disadvantages. Build alliances. Unite fragmented opposition. Use elections to expose authoritarian tendencies. Convert elections into instruments of democratic mobilisation. Indian Context (concerns) Electoral Bonds. Campaign finance. Media imbalance. EVM-related debates. Delimitation and institutional autonomy. Main Recommendation The Opposition should: Strengthen organisational capacity. Build grassroots networks. Mobilise citizens. Protect electoral institutions. Contest every election vigorously. Simultaneously document and publicise electoral unfairness. Key Takeaway Boycotting elections rarely weakens authoritarian tendencies; participating, organising, and exposing democratic deficits from within the electoral process is a far more effective strategy. PSIR Thinkers Adam Przeworski – Democracy requires uncertain electoral outcomes and competitive elections. Robert Dahl – Polyarchy depends on inclusive participation and public contestation. Larry Diamond – Electoral integrity is essential for democratic consolidation. Steven Levitsky & Lucan Way – Competitive authoritarian regimes require opposition participation rather than withdrawal. Pippa Norris (Why Electoral Integrity Matters): Electoral integrity encompasses the entire electoral cycle—from legal framework and campaign finance to media, voting, counting, and dispute resolution. One-line Conclusion Democracy is strengthened not by withdrawing from imperfect elections but by contesting them, mobilising citizens, and continuously defending the integrity of democratic institutions. #1B #2A

New NATO Spending Targets At recent summits, NATO members agreed to move towards spending 5% of GDP by 2035, comprising: [3.5% of GDP on core defence capabilities (equipment, forces, operational readiness). 1.5% of GDP on defence-related investments ] Lessons from Ukraine - Rapid battlefield adaptation. - Effective use of drones and AI-enabled systems. - Integration of inexpensive commercial technologies into warfare. - Innovation can outweigh numerical superiority. NATO’s future effectiveness depends not on spending more alone, but on investing in innovation, industrial resilience, and modern military capabilities to deter emerging security threats. #paper2

India’s Indo-Pacific strategy should move beyond balancing power to building trusted partnerships that combine security, economic resilience, technology, and connectivity—creating an “arc of trust” across the region. - Samir Saran The Indo-Pacific is undergoing a strategic transformation due to: - Intensifying US–China rivalry. - Shifting global supply chains. - Maritime security challenges. - Technological competition. - Economic fragmentation. India’s approach should be based on trust, resilience, and inclusive partnerships, not bloc politics. #2B

*Iran crisis- takeaways* By Vikram S. Mehta 1. Declining US Security Guarantee in the Gulf 2. Chokepoints Remain Critical to Global Energy Lessons for India: Expand Strategic Petroleum Reserves (SPR) from about 30 days to at least 60 days. Diversify crude imports. Reduce dependence on any single region. 3. Strategic Power Increasingly Depends on Technology Modern geopolitical competition is driven by semiconductors, AI, rare earths, and advanced manufacturing, not just military strength. Implication for India: Invest heavily in semiconductor manufacturing, AI, critical minerals, and advanced technology to enhance national security and economic competitiveness. 4. Iran is Re-emerging as a Regional Power India should: Continue engagement while balancing relations with Israel, the Gulf, and the US. Revive connectivity initiatives such as Chabahar Port and the International North-South Transport Corridor (INSTC) where feasible. Key Takeaways for India - Strengthen energy security through larger oil reserves and diversified imports. - Deepen engagement with Gulf countries amid changing regional dynamics. - Prioritise technological self-reliance (AI, semiconductors, critical minerals). - Maintain strategic autonomy by balancing ties with Iran, Israel, the Gulf states, and the United States. One-line takeaway: The Iran conflict underscores that India’s future security will depend not only on diplomacy, but also on resilient energy supplies, technological capability, and a balanced multi-aligned foreign policy. #2B