Current Affairs 10 February 2026

India-Seychelles Joint Vision: SESEL Framework

Seychelles President Dr. Patrick Herminie concluded his State Visit to India (February 5-10, 2026) with the announcement of a Joint Vision for Sustainability, Economic Growth and Security through Enhanced Linkages (SESEL). The visit coincided with the 50th year of Independence of Seychelles and 50 years of diplomatic relations between the two nations.

Special Economic Package – USD 175 Million

• USD 125 million: Rupee-denominated Line of Credit
• USD 50 million: Grant assistance for development cooperation projects, capacity building, maritime security

Key Development Cooperation Initiatives

Health Sector:

• Donation of 10 ambulances (Basic Life Support and Advance Life Support) equipped with latest equipment

Food Security:

• Donation of 1,000 metric tons of grains to strengthen food security and reduce food costs

Digital Transformation

• Comprehensive buildout of Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) including digital payments

Defence and Maritime Security

• Donation of 10 utility vehicles and 5 sets of laser radial boats to Seychelles Defence Forces
• Strengthened cooperation in joint maritime surveillance, hydrography surveys, bilateral exercises
• Customized training for Seychelles Defence Forces

Climate Action and Renewable Energy

• Implementation of Multi-Hazard Early Warning Systems
• Solar power projects under International Solar Alliance (ISA)
• Seychelles to join Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)

Hydrography Cooperation

• Establishment of Seychelles Hydrographic Unit (SHU) with Indian assistance

Strategic Significance

• Seychelles joins Colombo Security Conclave (CSC) as full member
• Important pillar in India’s Vision MAHASAGAR
• Seychelles supports India’s permanent membership at UN Security Council
• Partnership reinforces security and stability in Western Indian Ocean Region

Parliament and Parliamentary Norms

Parliamentary Procedure – Adjournment Motion

An adjournment motion is a procedural device to discuss a definite matter of urgent public importance. It involves:

• Purpose: Set aside normal business of the House to discuss specific urgent matter
• Admissibility: Requires Speaker’s/Chairman’s approval
• Support Required: Support of at least 50 members in Lok Sabha
• Effect: If admitted, it leads to adjournment of business and immediate discussion

Key Parliamentary Conventions

• Government Accountability: Government must inform Parliament of major policy decisions
• Parliamentary Privilege: Parliament’s right to discuss matters of public importance
• Question Hour: Mechanism for questioning government on its policies
• Debate and Discussion: Opportunity for thorough examination of policies before implementation

Network Readiness Index 2025 – India Ranks 45th

Our country improved its position by four slots to rank 45th in the Network Readiness Index (NRI) 2025, released on February 4, 2026. The report was prepared by the Portulans Institute, Washington DC, and maps network-based readiness of 127 economies.

India’s Performance Overview

• Rank: 45th (improved from 49th in 2024)
• Income Group Ranking: 2nd among lower-middle-income countries

India’s Top Rankings (1st Position)

• Annual investment in telecommunication services
• AI scientific publications
• ICT services exports
• E-commerce legislation

About Network Readiness Index

The Network Readiness Index assesses the capacity of countries to leverage information and communication technologies for economic growth, innovation, and societal well-being. It covers 53 indicators across four pillars, evaluating how prepared economies are to capitalize on digital technologies.

Preservation of India’s Cultural Heritage

Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)

• Total Centrally Protected Monuments: 3,686
• Conservation Approach: Annual Conservation Plan based on monument needs
• Site Museums: 52 archaeological site museums across India

National Mission on Monuments and Antiquities (NMMA)

• Established: 2007
• Purpose: Prepare two national registers on Monuments (Built Heritage and Sites) and Antiquities

JATAN Software for Digitization

• Purpose: Digitization of museum collections
• Collections Covered: Coins, paintings, manuscripts, philately, decorative art, archaeology, beads, anthropology, arms and armour, terracotta, porcelain, Central Asian antiquity, numismatics, epigraphy

India’s Vision MAHASAGAR in Indian Ocean Region

Vision MAHASAGAR stands for Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions. It is India’s strategic vision for the Indian Ocean Region announced to ensure maritime security, economic cooperation, and sustainable development.

Key Objectives

• Ensuring free, open, safe and secure Indian Ocean Region
• Respect for international law and freedom of navigation
• Rules-based maritime order based on UNCLOS
• Counteracting piracy, narcotics smuggling, human trafficking
• Combating IUU (Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated) fishing
• Maritime domain awareness and information sharing
• Regional stability and security

Partner Countries under MAHASAGAR

Seychelles is identified as an important pillar in Vision MAHASAGAR. Other key partners include Maldives, Mauritius, Sri Lanka, and various Indian Ocean Rim countries.

Colombo Security Conclave (CSC)

Seychelles’ decision to become a full member of the Colombo Security Conclave marks a significant expansion of the multilateral security mechanism in the Indian Ocean Region.

About Colombo Security Conclave

• Formation: 2011 (as Trilateral Maritime Security Cooperation)
• Original Members: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives
• Full Members (2026): India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, Mauritius, Seychelles
• Observer: Bangladesh

Focus Areas

• Maritime security cooperation
• Counter-terrorism and transnational crimes
• Cybersecurity
• Humanitarian assistance and disaster relief
• Protection of critical infrastructure and technology

Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI) Expansion

India’s commitment to help Seychelles build Digital Public Infrastructure highlights the growing role of DPI as a development cooperation tool.

India’s Digital Public Infrastructure Stack

• Aadhaar: Unique identity system
• UPI (Unified Payments Interface): Real-time payment system
• DigiLocker: Digital document storage
• e-Sign: Digital signature framework
• CoWIN: Vaccination management platform
• BHIM: Mobile payment app
• ONDC: Open Network for Digital Commerce

Global DPI Expansion

India is sharing its DPI frameworks with several countries including:

• Seychelles (announced February 2026)
• Singapore (UPI-PayNow integration)
• Malaysia (UPI-PayNet integration)
• UAE, France, Bhutan, Nepal
• Several African and Southeast Asian nations

Disclaimer: This article is prepared for competitive exam preparation using publicly available information.