What is the common examiner trap about Intl. Relations in UPSC exams?

They may swap 'countervailing duty' (for subsidies) with 'anti-dumping duty' (for low prices) or confuse the HPV vaccine's target age (14 years) with the age for other vaccines. In defence, they might ask about 'revenue' vs. 'capital' outlay components.

What should UPSC aspirants remember about Intl. Relations for Prelims?

1. Target this Data: 126% preliminary CVD on Indian solar imports. 2. Target this Nodal Body: US Department of Commerce (for the CVD investigation). 3. Target this Legal Point: 'Adverse Facts Available' methodology used in trade investigations.

International RelationsEconomy

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News 1 of 30

US Imposes 126% CVD on Indian Solar Imports; India's Defence Budget Hits ₹7.85 Lakh Cr; National HPV Vaccine Drive for 14-Year-Old Girls

Q: Which US government department conducted the countervailing duty investigation on Indian solar products?

Department of Commerce, The article explicitly states that the US Department of Commerce imposed the 126% tariff and conducted the anti-subsidy investigation. The Department of Commerce is the primary federal agency responsible for promoting economic growth and enforcing trade laws.

Q: Consider the following statements regarding the news: 1. The US imposed a 126% preliminary countervailing duty on solar imports from India after two Adani Group companies cooperated fully with the investigation. 2. India's defence budget for 2026-27 saw a 15.19% increase, with nearly 75% of the capital acquisition budget earmarked for domestic procurement. 3. The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign will use the indigenously developed Cervavac vaccine for all 14-year-old girls. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Only 2, Statement 1 is incorrect. The duty was imposed because the two Adani Group companies 'withdrew' and were 'non-responsive', not because they cooperated. Statement 2 is correct as per the article. Statement 3 is incorrect; the campaign will use the Gardasil vaccine by MSD, as Cervavac is yet to receive WHO approval and its single-dose effectiveness is under study.

Q: What is the total allocation for the defence budget in the Union Budget 2026-27 as mentioned in the article?

₹7.85 lakh crore, The article clearly states: "the Union Budget 2026-27 has significantly bolstered its national security framework with a record allocation of Rs 7.85 lakh crore." ₹6.81 lakh crore was the previous year's estimate, ₹2.19 lakh crore is the capital outlay, and ₹3.65 lakh crore is the revenue budget.

Q: What is a primary strategic rationale, as discussed in the article, for India's significant increase in defence expenditure?

To build credible deterrence and ensure strategic autonomy, The article argues that the defence surge is "a sign of maturity" and that "strategic autonomy, if it means anything, requires credible national capability." It states the purpose is to build credible deterrence in a complex security environment, not to fuel an arms race. The other options are either incorrect or represent narrower, specific aspects of the budget.

Intl. Relations Economy Security & Defence Social IssuesCORE

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GABankingPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link

26 Feb 2026

~2 min

Source: Indian Express

Key Data:126% CVD$792.6 million₹7.85 lakh crore₹2.19 lakh crore75,000 deaths/year

Bodies:US Department of CommerceMinistry of DefenceCBSEGAVI Vaccine Alliance

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~2 min · Quick mode

What This Article Covers

1.The US imposed a 126% preliminary countervailing duty on Indian solar products after two Adani Group companies withdrew from an anti-subsidy probe, citing India's dependence on Chinese inputs.

2.The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated a record ₹7.85 lakh crore for defence, a 15.19% increase, with a 21.8% surge in capital outlay to ₹2.19 lakh crore for military modernisation.

3.The government will roll out a nationwide single-dose HPV vaccination campaign for all 14-year-old girls to prevent cervical cancer, which kills 75,000 women in India annually.

The Big Picture

Prelims · HighMains · High

This article bundles high-impact current affairs for UPSC aspirants, covering a major trade dispute where the US imposed 126% countervailing duty on Indian solar panels, India's record defence budget of ₹7.85 lakh crore, and the launch of a nationwide single-dose HPV vaccination campaign for girls aged 14 to combat cervical cancer. Each story presents distinct policy, economic, and health dimensions crucial for exams.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

US Tariff on Indian Solar126% Preliminary CVD

Indian Solar Exports to US (2024)$792.6 million

Defence Budget 2026-27₹7.85 lakh crore

Defence Capital Outlay₹2.19 lakh crore

HPV Vaccine Target GroupAll 14-year-old girls

Cervical Cancer Deaths/Year75,000

1-Minute Revision

›US Tariff on Indian Solar: 126% Preliminary CVD
›Indian Solar Exports to US (2024): $792.6 million
›Target this Data: 126% preliminary CVD on Indian solar imports.
›Target this Nodal Body: US Department of Commerce (for the CVD investigation).
›Target this Legal Point: 'Adverse Facts Available' methodology used in trade investigations.

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News Snapshot

⚖️

Trade Dispute Escalation

The US imposed a 126% CVD on Indian solar imports after two Adani Group companies withdrew from an anti-subsidy investigation, triggering an 'Adverse Facts Available' penalty.

🛡️

Defence Modernisation Push

India's defence budget surged to ₹7.85 lakh crore with 75% of the capital outlay earmarked for domestic procurement under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative.

💉

Public Health Milestone

A nationwide campaign will offer a single-dose HPV vaccine to all 14-year-old girls to prevent cervical cancer, which accounts for a fifth of global cases.

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

The US investigation was initiated in August 2025 based on a petition from the Alliance for American Solar Manufacturing and Trade. It examined transnational subsidies on inputs like polysilicon and solar glass. India's solar exports to the US grew nine-fold between 2022 and 2024, exceeding $790 million, with over 90% of India's PV module exports destined for the US. In defence, this budget follows Operation Sindoor, reflecting a strategic shift towards credible deterrence in a complex security environment with a two-front challenge. The HPV drive follows successful state pilots in Sikkim and Punjab.

Core Analysis & Implications

The US CVD ruling uses the 'Adverse Facts Available' methodology, the toughest penalty, due to non-cooperation by mandatory respondents. This could disrupt India's solar manufacturing boom, where capacity exceeds 140 GW annually, and affect project financing and electricity tariffs. The defence budget's emphasis on domestic procurement (75% of capital outlay) aims to strengthen the defence industrial base and strategic autonomy. The HPV campaign, using the Gardasil vaccine supplied by GAVI, is a cost-effective public health intervention; universal immunisation of girls also reduces HPV transmission to boys and protects against other cancers.

Future Outlook / Way Forward

India may need to engage diplomatically with the US on the CVD ruling and possibly contest it at the WTO. Diversifying solar export markets and deepening domestic value chains is crucial. In defence, sustained high capital expenditure is needed to bridge capability gaps, with a focus on indigenous R&D (allocated ₹0.17 lakh crore). For the HPV drive, successful implementation via the U-win platform and integration into routine immunisation will be key to achieving high coverage and eventually reducing cervical cancer incidence drastically.

Examiner's Angle & Linkages

For UPSC, this article tests multiple GS papers: GS-II (India-US trade, Israel-Palestine, NEP), GS-III (solar energy, defence budgeting, CVD), and GS-II (health policy). Key linkages are India's solar schemes (Advance Authorisation, DFIA), the three-language formula under NEP 2020, the concept of deterrence in international relations, and the science behind HPV and cervical cancer. The data points are ripe for Prelims MCQs.

Key Facts at a Glance

US Tariff on Indian Solar126% Preliminary CVD

Indian Solar Exports to US (2024)$792.6 million

Defence Budget 2026-27₹7.85 lakh crore

Defence Capital Outlay₹2.19 lakh crore

HPV Vaccine Target GroupAll 14-year-old girls

Cervical Cancer Deaths/Year75,000

You've read the full analysis. Now test your understanding.

Practice exam-style questions based on this article.

Q1Static LinkageEasyUPSC, SSC, Banking

Which US government department conducted the countervailing duty investigation on Indian solar products?

Q2Statement-basedHardUPSC, SSC

Consider the following statements regarding the news:

1. The US imposed a 126% preliminary countervailing duty on solar imports from India after two Adani Group companies cooperated fully with the investigation.

2. India's defence budget for 2026-27 saw a 15.19% increase, with nearly 75% of the capital acquisition budget earmarked for domestic procurement.

3. The nationwide HPV vaccination campaign will use the indigenously developed Cervavac vaccine for all 14-year-old girls.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMediumUPSC, SSC, Banking

What is the total allocation for the defence budget in the Union Budget 2026-27 as mentioned in the article?

Q4Application/ImpactMediumUPSC, SSC

What is a primary strategic rationale, as discussed in the article, for India's significant increase in defence expenditure?

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US Imposes 126% CVD on Indian Solar Imports; India's Defence Budget Hits ₹7.85 Lakh Cr; National HPV Vaccine Drive for 14-Year-Old Girls

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

1-Minute Revision

News Snapshot

Trade Dispute Escalation

Defence Modernisation Push

Public Health Milestone

Detailed Analysis & Strategic Depth

Context / Background

Core Analysis & Implications

Future Outlook / Way Forward

Examiner's Angle & Linkages

Prelims Flashpoints

Key Facts at a Glance