Subject Preference: GS Paper II (Global Groupings & Global South Leadership)
- The News (Dec, 2025): At the 4th BRICS Sherpas meeting in Brasília, Brazil's Sherpa handed a symbolic gavel (made of recycled Amazonian wood) to India's Sherpa, Sudhakar Dalela. India officially assumes the presidency on Jan 1, 2026.
- Apt Topic: "Continuity, Consolidation, and Consensus (The 3Cs)"
- The Amazon Gavel Symbolism: In UPSC, symbolism matters. The recycled wood represents Climate Justice and the Global South's commitment to sustainability without "Green Protectionism." It contrasts with the 2024 Russian gavel (Steel from Urals), showing a shift from industrial-military focus to environmental-social focus.
- India’s 2026 Priorities: India has identified four pillars: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, and Sustainability.
- Navigating BRICS+: This will be India's first presidency in a significantly expanded BRICS. The challenge is "Consensus Building"—ensuring the group remains a developmental platform rather than an anti-Western bloc.
IAS-2026 - OPTIONAL / GEOGRAPHY / PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION / SOCIOLOGY / ANTHROPOLOGY / ORIENTATION ON 03 & 04-10-2025 
