Daily Current Affairs Analysis | 21st August, 2026 | Shankar IAS Academy | UPSC | Mains 2026

[Music] Hi Hello and Welcome to Shankar IS Academy's Daily Current Affairs Analysis and Today's Date is the 21st of August 2026. So please like, comment, share and subscribe to our YouTube channel and hit the bell icon to receive instant updates and all our notifications. So, with that I also have a small announcement to make on behalf of Shankar IS Academy, that is the pre-storming test series is starting and you can see a QR code mentioned here, right? You can scan this to get the reflections from previous year based on the test series, what are the amount questions that have been reflected in the actual UPSC exam. And also the admissions are open now. You can take this test both online and offline. So offline you can take the test in Shankar IAS Academy Anna Nagar Branch. So please call the number 9003090031 for any more information regarding this particular pre-storing test series. So, it starts from the seventh of September. So, ah you can also visit the website to know more about it. With that, let's move into the topics of discussion for the day. The first topic is about the monarch butterflies and what relation it has to the milk wheat and that is also a scientific proof that has been included here. Let's see what that is about. The second one is about glysphate on forest land. How is it impacting the environment? Is it a good impact or a bad impact? What is happening and what are the regulations that have been bestowed upon it. The third one is the England India Bangladesh relations. What happen? What is the Eunice interlude? That is happening. So what are we going to do with that and that is the India Bangladesh relations that we are going to deal with this is in the men's perspective. The fourth one is also in the main perspective on the Indian labour organisations and the platform economy that is present and the fifth one is the prelims focus for the day. So, the first topic of the day is about the monarch butterfly. So, this article is taken from The Times of India. So if you see the monarch butterfly has been added to the endangered species list and scientists in California have given something called a solar powered radio back. So this solar powered radio back is something that is used to actually conserve and make ah ah make them ah more efficient and you can see where ah the monarch butterfly is going and what is the health condition of the monarch butterfly using this solar powered radio back. So, let's decode in detail with this background. So, you see so the solar power radio transmitters and back pack is the first thing that you have to note. This is the one that is relevant for the science and technology angle. But if you see in specific the monarch butterfly this can be asked in the environment. For your prelims GS one GS three recent in both so now we are going to track the monarch butterfly let's go into the topic the appearance how does it appear it has an orange color appearance with black color and white color spots so white spots black wets orange so if you see the butterfly here you have the border. This place will be black. The dominant color will be orange. The spots will be white. So basically there is a long migration journey that this butterfly takes. It comes from North America to Mexico. So this journey, the North America to Mexico journey is something very, very important because of its migratory nature, it is also very important. So Now You See the Route Long Distance Migration North America and Mexico. This route is something to be noted. So, Across This Is Not the First Generation of Monarch Butterfly That's Coming Towards This Route for Migration. For generations together for a long time these butterflies have been taking this migration pattern. So also the caterpillars you see there is actually the milkweed milkweed has a leaf. So the female butterfly, the monk butterfly, goes on to the milk wheat plant and on the particular leaf it lays out the eggs. The Larva. Once the larva comes out and it is led there. So this is where the birds ah this is where the butterflies actually hatch. So once they hatch they start eating this milk wheat. So what happens? So now your question is okay there is milk wheat? So why doesn't it go to another tree and let's eggs. So in this case then the caterpillar will not be able to feed. So this is a symbiotic and orientationally oriented relationship that is present. So if at all there is any other leaf that is present this particular butterfly will star. So it needs milk weight for its survival. Which is why it is both interlinked and it is symbiotic in nature. So now the milkweed is not a normal plant. Milk thistle if you see it is poisonous in nature. So it has poisonous content but it actually gives immunity to the catbullers. So immunity development happens. So now they're taking a journey from ah North America to Mexico. Now the question is how do they actually take this journey and what is happening to these butterflies. How are they finding their directions? It's based on the Sun's magnetic field. So again this is the beauty of nature. So this is something again you have to keep in mind for your prelims. Now we are done with this slide. Let's move to the next slide. The next slide talks about the physical traits and defenses. So the first one is the blight orange wings. The black color borders white spots. So the dominant color is orange. So it has a wing span of about 9 to 10 cm. And the gender ID is that males will have a black spot on each hand wing and females will have thicker wing veins. What is Wing Wayne? So this is the wing vane. Ok? So, caterpillars will feed on the milk wheat. And as already told, this is a poisoner, Ah Leaf. This Is a Poisonous Milk V. This is a poisonous lead. So, the toxins will go into the caterpillar's body but the caterpillars will have immunity to it. So they will actually store the toxins. Once this is happening they will be vulnerable to predators. So the Predators Will Not Come Eat Them. And the Viceroy Butterfly Resembles the Monarch Butterfly. So, The Predators Will Actually Be Deterred. They will think that oh, this vice butterfly is also poison. Let me not go near this butterfly. So it is also helping other species. Now the next one is about why are Monarch Butterflies being tracked. See The Migratory Marathon That This Monarch Butterfly Takes From North America To Mexico It Is Classified As Endangered By The Iucn Because Of The Threat. So, the first one is the habitat loss. In habitat loss and degradation, if you see if milkweed is affected, there is a direct correlation to butterfly decline due to climate change that also affects the migratory potential in the growth of milkweed. These are pointers that you should be using in your menu. So the decline of nectar- producing plants will affect the grown monarch butterflies. Changes in Migration Conditions Due to Climate Change. Difficulty in withstanding migration route loss of over wintering sides help in better resting. So these are the major threats that are present and this is how the monarch butterfly is being treated. So what is the solar backpack? Now comes the science and technology angle where in it is a miniature solar powered radio telemetry tag. It Is Attached To The Butterfice Bag. You can remember a backpack. Have you all seen it? Dora. So the explorer will always have the back pack. Just Like That This Butterfly Is Going To Have A Back Pack Where In It Converts The Sunlight Into Power For The Device. So, you can't find out the butterfly and take it out of the bag and then put a charger on it like you charge your mobile phone, right? So, this is going to be late. And it senses signals containing the butterfly's location. So, you can locate it. And This Can Deduct The Signals To Monitor Movement And Monitor The Habit Use. So this can also be a parallel to the tracking collars in wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. So the information collected what are the information you collect? First one is butterfly sex male amount of population. The Other One is the female. Female is identified using black veins Male is identified using spots Weight of the butterfly Determines the health potential of the butterfly The health potential of the butterfly is very different to note ok so the health potential of the butterfly Body measurements Movement and location data helps track migration patterns Right weather conditions Difference between consumption of caterpillar to butterfly Use of overwintering grouse. So, these are the information that we will be collected with the presence of the solar back pack that we have seen. So these are the points basically the butterfly sex, ah the migration routes, ah the weight, body measurements, weather conditions and sources, and what we will do with it. Why is it collected is in the parallel. I have written it that. So, now with reference to the monarch butterfly consider the following statements. It Undertakes Long-Distance Multigenerational Migration Between North America and Mexico. Yes. Caterpillars primarily feed on milkweed which contributes to chemical defense against predators. Yes, this we have seen for the immunity. Absolutely. Right. The Viceroy Butterfly Exhibit mimics the monarch's color and pattern. Yes. So the answer should be option D one two and three. So let's check if this answer is correct. Yes, the answer is option one, two and three. With this, we have come to the end of this topic and let's move to the next topic for the day. In the next topic of the day is about the glycophosphate on forest plants. This article is taken from the down to earth. So you see that Himachal Pradesh, you see this is the Himachal Pradesh forest and there is an FIR that is going to be filed because glyco phosphate has been used in this forest land. And that's not something that is uh that should be used because it is actually used to throw out the uh unnecessary plants we throw out those plants. So, this is Ah done to use this land for pea cultivation. And this is forest land in the part of the Mandi district and now the environmental groups have come if said that do you know glycophosphate can harm the environment, it can harm the soil, it can harm the land, how can you use it? So this is the basic one liner. Okay, with this background. Let's move into the topics. Ah the first one is the forest department it has deducted that there is illegal pea cultivation. First point the second one is glycophosphate is used to clear and weed out vegetation that ah actually will create a hazard an invasive species kind of species. Now this is raised concerns over water, biodiversity, livestock and human health because we are just throwing it around in such steep land. That is Himachal Pradesh is a mountainous region. So when there is water leaching and something like that, it will flow down. So, it's going to create some kind of issue for us, right? So, the forest department has destroyed all these illegally cultivated crops and it is going to plan a plan and file FIR against the people who are responsible for this particular thing. Now, glycophosphate, what is it in a broad sense. So, it is first a heb herbicide. So, it is made from herbs. It is a herbicide that is used to control weeds or take the weeds out. And it inhibits the Shikimate pathway. So this Shikmate pathway is in plants. So the shikimate pathway is essential and this is the pathway through which the amino acids flow and the plants are healthy. But this particular glycophosphate will go and it will burden up this particular pathway. So the pathway will be affected but in animals it is absent in humans it is absent. So it is important for the herbicidal action. So it can affect non-target vegetation and ecological systems depending on the exposure and the use. Now the regulatory angle is that glycophosphate is regulated under the Insecticides Act of 1968. So it notes that the registered use in India is always associated with any kind of weeding out of any kind of plant and the tea plantation. So in North East the tea regions Orissa it is common there to be used to weed out because other plants also will grow with this plantation so to weed out those plants and make this particular plantation very healthy it is used. Now the Central Government orders to restrict its use. So the concerns regarding human and animal health are still prevalent and present. It also highlights that the implementation status of this restriction will be contested. So the implementation status is not yet confirmed. That is also something to be noted. Now what are the environmental concerns? So Ecological Impacts of the Incriminate Herbicide Use. So first it will contaminate the soil and degradation and we no takes lot of time. To get soil and help soil health is imperative, possible contamination of near by water sources will affect the ecological health of a region. Here you can bring in the concept of ectons, ozone effects on micro organisms, their role in food web and food chain that will be affected. And the forest ecosystems process will be affected. So these are the six to seven points that are given as the environmental concerns. So this is something important to note. Soil contamination, possible contamination of near by water resources, non-reduction of non-target plant diversity, effect on micro organisms, impact on live stock and disturbance of forest ecosystem and processes that is present. Now the forest land and encroachment that is present. So if you see here the forest land represents a form of land use changed. Why? Because the forest land is now becoming an agricultural land. Which is why there is a forest degradation. So which is why illegal cultivation will actually stop already of changing the forest land into an agricultural land. Now that agricultural land is also not taking care of properly. So the laws of natural vegetation will affect the biodiversity in the region. Habitat Fragmentation Might Happen Ecosystem Services There are four types of ecosystem services. Here mainly we are talking about the regulatory service of the ecosystem that will be affected. The four types need to be learned its very variant for the prelims here also you can take the provisioning service of the ecosystem so mountain the ecosystems have increased pressure there is also a legal and governance example that is present so the relevant framework Indian Forest Act 1927 Insecticides Act 1968 State Forest Laws and Regulations, Environmental Protection and Unsustainable Land Use. So, from a health perspective, if you see, there is exposure to pesticides, it can occur through contaminated food and contaminated water and environmental exposure to this glycophosphate and occupational exposure among agricultural workers who go into the region to collect timber, to collect food, to collect anything that is necessary for their livelihood. Ah even today there are a lot of people who go to get honey who go to get any kind of produce right so that can be affected so the research on cancer the IAARC International Agency for Research of Cancer they have classified the glycophosphate has possibly carcinogenic what is carcinogenic cancer causing agent it's a cancer causing agent. So this is a huge thing and by itself so that it can necessarily cause cancer. Himachal Pradesh Has Fragile Mountain Ecosystems. So there is a steep slope and high erosion susceptibility is present and it is dense forest and ah wildlife will be affected and springs and streams are there. So contamination of streams and rivers might be there and this during down flow affect flora and fauna due to strong dependence of local communities on natural resources. Therefore, agricultural encroachment and chemical-intensive cultivation can have downstream ecological effects. Now there is also the sustainable agricultural angle. That is there is a need for integrated weed management. So, we know that there are a lot of weeds that need to be thrown out. So, integrated handling them should be there. So mechanically and manually we should be controlled taking it out. So just having the use of technology will not help. Mulching and cover crops, pest control should be there and reduce dependence on chemical herbicides should be there. Protection of forest and community water resources should also be there. Now, consider the following statements regarding glycophosphate. Glycophosphate inhibits the enzymes which are associated with the succinate pathway. Yes Shikamat Pathra is present in humans and essential for the synthesis of aromatic amino acids. No it's pleasant in plants. So we know that the second statement is wrong. Anyway we will see the third and fourth statements. Glycophosphate is a broad spectrum of systemic herbicide used for weed control. Yes. ICAR has classified glycophosphate as probably carcinogenic to humans. Yes. So, the answer should be option A, one, three and four only. Let's check. Yes, the answer is option A one three and four only. With this. Let us come to the end of this topic for the day. Let's move into the India Bangladesh relations. Which is the next topic for the day? So, the next topic of the day is about the India Bangladesh relations. So, you see that there is a BNP victory that happened under the Tarique Rahman regime and it offers India a fragile reset. So, there is a lot of tension in the border. You see that India Bangladesh border is one of the longest borders that we share. Actually the longest border that we share. So there is water sharing dispute there is trade ah dispute that is happening there is a key challenge. So let's see the bilateral relationship between both these countries. Now if you see that in 1971 there was a liberation war that happened, and after the liberation war there was a diplomatic tie that was formed between both of the countries. After that in 1972 we had the Indira Mujib Friendship and there was a treaty that st. After that in 1996 the Ganga water sharing treaty came into accord and then there was a land boundary agreement that also was operationalised. And then Younis regime was formed and Sheikh Hasina herself came to India to get an edge. So this regime was formed in 2024 and now BNP wins the polls and Tarique Rahman has become the PM. Now there are six pillars for this bilateral agreement. The first one is India's India is the largest South Asian partner for Bangladesh. So, the first one is trade and commerce. Spread is very very important because the import and export is such that the country might grow and the country might face a lot of downfall. So, India being the largest South Asian trade partner is very important. Again we have the rails, roads, inland waterways and links across North East India. And there are 54 shared reverses. Ganga and pending Teesta Accords are there. There is a 400 ah 96 km. Border. So, here in this area is where you have a lot of insurgency that is happening. So, the insurgency may cause issues. But also there is a terror cooperation in certain times, so we also have a lot of bilateral exercises that we do in case there is an external threat that comes to our region. So, that is also important to note and energy. 160 megawatts of power and diesel to Bangladesh India is supplying and there is also a cultural linguistic diaspora and also the tourist visas now they are raised now these are the six pillars of the bilateral engagement that is happening now the Unus factor what is happening in the Unus interloot and what is [sound of clearing throat] the determination of the ties that is happening here so hasinas Paul ended the close ties that were there from 2024 84. Now this person he had his first state with it to Beijing. So, maybe he might be close to China and it might we might perceive it as a geopolitical threat because he is not less visited India. The close ties will be late and will not be late it has to go through the regime again to know ah what is his plan. So the China factor, the China nexus, it's sitting on top of us. And also there is the ISI and diplomatic ties that are revived and also there is a minority concern present that you see ah Bangladesh has a lot of Muslims right so the Hindus that are present that there is a lot of killing of the Hindus attacks on the Hindus. That is present from 2025 and 2024. So, this is a concern for us, and there is also border friction that is present. Over thousand plus infiltration attempts have been happening from 2025. And there is also a diplomatic freeze. So any high level decisions, any high level authority, any high level exchange they were suspended. So political rupture, China tilt, Pakistan outreach, minority concerns, border friction, diplomatic triage. Only these words can be used during your menses. You cannot write answers with sentences. Like you are doing it in your optional paper. So, these words are very very important note in the men's perspective. And there are also relationship numbers. Now we are going to go into the statistical details. C There is a longest border of 496 km. There is a total trade turnover that is 14 billion and 160 MW of power supplied from India to the world. Trans 54 Trans Boundary Reverse R Share and in Trade If you see India exports about 11.1 billion India imports about 2.0 billion there is a trade balance of 9.1 billion and in South Asia the number one partner is India to Bangladesh. So now post elections the reset is what is going to happen in the BNP era. The first one is the new government will have the Tariq Rahman Swearing. Once that happens, Indian Speaker Om Birla will be at the swearing-in and Bangladesh Finance Minister visited New Delhi and after that the visas to Bangladesh were restored and power and connectivity projects remain intact and both sides are seeking balance and ties. So there is a strategic challenge ahead that is ah daka still towards Beijing and Pakistan it stays and there the seat gain near the border alarm in Delhi and water sharing pack is also stalled this is because of the river t. The Tee River Has a Deadlock That Is Present. So there is also an attack on Hindus that persecutes Daka Remain Re demands. The few demands fuel friction because it is asking for Hasina to return back to Bangladesh and there is a rhetorical flame that is present in the anti- India push. So the cooperation is that lifeline that is a power and diesel that energy lifeline that is going from India it will continue connectivity will be there in railways and waterways by the Akura Agral rail and waterways around India and Dhaka will be the top trade partners and ah there is ah line of control for infrastructure so the development aid will also be there ah and the BIMSTEC STARK and IOC regions will have multilateral trade and medical and education exchanges also will be going on. So the way forward is that we must have a broad engagement across all political and economic realms. We have to have an engagement. There is a trade and energy link. So, it is an economic interlock. So we should not use it as a bet to affect the nation. There is a water ah water diplomacy, so, Teesta and Ganga Renew. So this can also be used in ethics where you see during Operation Sindoor water was used as a weapon right how was water used as a weapon blocking of Indus water counter narratives versus soft power so there is also root ties in neighbourhood that is the regional view and there is also public diplomacy that is present. So UPSC Mains Practice Question is that critically examine India Bangladesh tie after 2024 highlighting strategic economic security challenges and suggest a road map to strengthen unsustainable bilateral relations for 250 words 15 marks. The Next Is Decent Work in the Platform Economy. So regulation of platform economy must import the spirit of the ILO Convention and the employer flexibility should be matched to the rights of the employees. So this is about the 144th International Labour Conference which was in Geneva in June and this talks about the labour protection. and the Employer Employee Relations. So this platform work how is a national law classifying it? So now there is innovation and also there is the right of workers how do we balance this is about the platform economy and this is about the ah news article that is present. Now let's go into the context. I have given you the background but that then the context is that number 193 extends labor protections for platform workers India's abstain it is told that the national discretion is important despite domestic support so what is it about so you see that International Labour Organization organization going to see its certain facts so very very factual data is founded in 1919 o oldest specialized agency India is also a founding father there are 187 states it is tripartite that is the government employer and worker three of them also are givens there is a global labor standard Nobel Peace Prize is presented it was adopted in 114 in Geneva. So the Convention also has a privacy of facts over contracts. So, what are the facts that is the core rule. It covers digital and on-demand work, upscaled with nine other nations. Or all present six provisions of the convention mandates first what is your stay status is based on the contract status is not based on control you can't control gig workers. Second, if you are not getting any amount of orders during your idle horse, you cannot say that you will not be compensated. You should be fairly compensated because it is not your fault that you are not getting work because it is an integrated system. It is the fault of the particular app or any whatever platform you are working on. The third one is ratings. Incentive Reductions. A lot of people do not have awareness on that. And it is not in the vernacular language also. So, here you can also talk about the language. The Vernaculars It Is Not There in the Vernacular Language. So you will also have issues there people to understand. So the awareness should be made and then there is the data protection work, data safe guard should be there and then the portability rights also should be there. Due Process Before Suspension on Account Exit. You Can't Say One Day That This Person Will Not Be Working for Our Platform Anymore. This you cannot do that without giving proper reason. This is unfair. This is against the fundamental right. So it is very very important to note. And the sixth one is the state should have an oversight over the conditions if they are actually going above and beyond and what is happening should be known. So, India's position is that by national law, the legal basis is extended by existing laws. So you see here India is by asking ah by national law but the classification is by privacy of facts. We Saw In On The First Slide Itself. The legal basis is by existing laws. But here by a new global framework. That's why it's opting out. The language is appropriate and here it is a binding standard. Flexible for startups. Here it's prescriptive and it is not a prah it is not based on the important loss. So, final vote we have obtained and the final vote is adopted by majority. Here in the regulation angle we want the flexibility for startups. Here they are saying that we have already prescribed. So for you alone we ca n't change the law, right? So, this is India's platform. 7.7 million gig workers are present in India. 2 23.5 million R Projected Workers. Three times is a growth in less than a decade and there is a code of social security. So there is a levy on turnover cap on payment portable ID in the eStorm portal and it covers the health maternity and accident angle. So the Code on Social Security is from November 2025. So platform workers are in a special category. eShram Portal Is A Portal For Gig Workers It Has A Universal Account Number. So with that you can go register and you can take use of the benefit. Up to 2% of turnover through the welfare fund should be given like a CSR and accident health and maternity benefits are there no individual right to any benefit. There is no entitlement. This is India's domestic framework. So the gap is that there is no earnings floor, that there are no minimum wages, that earnings floors are unregulated. So what happens? One Individual Goes and Works in Multi Apps. That is a multiplying concept. They work in many apps and they also don't have upskilling opportunities. So it is going to affect them. S Ideal Hearts That Are Compensated Long Shifts That Remain Common Sick Maternity Leave Is Absent Ratings and Incentives Are Non-Transparent Those Arbitrary Deactivation Without Process That Is The Unfair Exit That Is Present. So Opaque Algorithms Do Not Give Transparency. We say this but many of them are going on loss of pay. So long shifts remain common because earning is based on hearsay. Earning is not based on regulation. OK the next slide State Initiatives So Rajasthan is the first to have a Gig Welfare Board after that Karnataka has a bill for the platform workers and the security fund Bihar and Jharkhand have welfare rules Telangana has gig work framework eShram Growth has millions of workers are now registered and convention 193 has a common floor. Now way forward is that classify your status based on reality not based on contract labels. Give minimum standards, give minimum wages. Even if they do not get any work during that particular time. If they are working for eight hours for your platform. You are bound to give a minimum wage. There is algorithm audit so have explainable systems. Ah have a proper information that is conveyed to the person before deactivating their portal. Have platform size and stage do not keep ah expanding that and ah without proper ah face regulation and have flexibility and enforceable rights. So, in Right to the ILO Convention 193, critically evaluate India's legal framework for platform workers and suggest reforms for balance protection. It's a 250 word question for 15 marks. So, please send us this across the answer copy, so that we can help you at better in the preparation with that. We will move to the prelims focus for the day. The prelims focus is about the World Humanitarian Day of 2026. The World Humanitarian Day is on 19th August to honour the humanitarian workers. So honoring foreign humanitarians ah and the greater protection for health care is that. Ah there and their focus is to have health care workers. Who Lost Their Lives and Crisis for Them to Give a Tribute to Them is what their focus is. So a patient's facilities and medical transport care is very very important and its the need of the art and human international humanitarian law and act for humanitarian campaign is very very important. So Jal Jeevan Mission clocks seven years rural drinking water tap coverage surges from 16.7 to over 82%. So it started in 15th August 2009. So the coverage rose from 3.23 crore to 15.91 crore and there are 188 districts 2 lakh villages for Harghar Jal and the impact is 12.68 new households are there with tap water with health, hygiene and dignity. Also it focuses on the delivery of the service. It should be sustainable and the community should jointly work on that particular Jal Jeevan Mission and it is continued till 2028. It promotes rain water harvesting and ground water recharge and water security that is present. Now the final one is about All India High Girls High Attitude Long Track called as the Aparjita that is in ah New Delhi. The Parangala 2026 It Is From The NCC The National Cadet Corps New Delhi. So this is a 250 km. Long pass connecting the Spiti Valley and the Changtang over 30 days. So this is representing three services. Right? So with reference to Jal Jeevan Mission consider the following statements: The Mission envisages a service level of 55 litres per capita per day. Under the funding pattern, Himalayan and North Eastern states receive higher central share than other states. Under Jal Jeevan Mission Sujalam Bharat Framework Aims to Map the Rural Water Supply from the Source to Tap Option A One and Two Option B Two and Three Option C One and Three Option D One Two and Three So Please Send Across Your Answer for This Particular Question in the Comment Section Given Below and We Will Ah Get Back to You Thank You for Watching Today's Video Again Please Like Comment Subscribe to Our YouTube Channel and Hit on the Bell Icon to Receive Instant Updates and All Our Notifications Thank You for Watching Me Thank You for Watching Shankar Academy and Again Let's Meet Again in a New New Day in a New Video. Thank you. [music]