Current Affairs

On the 10th Armed Forces Veterans Day, the Defence Minister paid tribute to the courage and sacrifices of the Indian Peace Keeping Force (IPKF) in Sri Lanka. The occasion highlighted Operation Pawan, the IPKF’s military operation linked to the Indo–Sri Lanka Accord (29 July 1987). The IPKF remained deployed in Sri Lanka until March 1990 and was withdrawn after a change in the Sri Lankan government’s policy.

Berkeley Earth reported 2025 as the warmest La Niña year globally, despite La Niña being the cooler phase of ENSO. ENSO is a recurring equatorial Pacific ocean-atmosphere phenomenon; El Niño/La Niña are oceanic components and Southern Oscillation is atmospheric. La Niña strengthens trade winds, aids monsoon rainfall, causes colder northern winters, raises flood and Bay of Bengal cyclone risk. El Niño weakens trade winds, can reduce monsoon rain, lower crop yields, raise food prices and intensify heat stress.

NITI Aayog released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024 for India’s States and Union Territories to assess export readiness, aligned with India’s USD 1 trillion merchandise export target by 2030. The framework has four pillars-Export Infrastructure (20%), Business Ecosystem (40%), Policy & Governance (20%) and Export Performance (20%)-disaggregated into 13 sub-pillars and 70 indicators, including trade & logistics infrastructure and human capital.

Astronomers observed a white dwarf producing a colourful shockwave while moving through space. A white dwarf is the dense stellar core left after a star (e.g., Sun) exhausts nuclear fuel and sheds outer layers as a planetary nebula. It has no fusion but stays hot, ~half Sun’s mass yet Earth-sized, made of helium/carbon/oxygen nuclei and electrons, supported by electron degeneracy pressure. It cools over ~billion years, may become a black dwarf; luminosity aids dating star formation.

NASA is preparing to roll out Artemis II, targeted as early as the first week of February: a four-astronaut, 10-day lunar flyby and return. Second Artemis flight and first crewed mission, it is the first human trip to the Moon’s vicinity since 1972, flying SLS and Orion (3 NASA, 1 CSA), with radiation/health/communications payloads and Pacific splashdown off San Diego. Artemis includes Lunar Gateway and enables Artemis III crewed landing by 2028.

PRAGATI (Pro-Active Governance and Timely Implementation), launched on March 25, 2015, held its 50th meeting. Developed by the PMO with NIC, it is an integrated, interactive platform for grievance resolution and monitoring/review of Government of India programmes and projects, including those flagged by States. It uses real-time visuals, video conferencing, digital data management and geospatial technology; follows a three-tier model (PMO, Union Secretaries, State Chief Secretaries), with monitoring by Cabinet Secretariat and databases re-engineered from CPGRAMS, PMG and MoSPI.

India and China renewed friction over Shaksgam Valley (Trans Karakoram Tract) in J&K; MEA reiterated it is Indian territory and India may take “necessary measures”. Located near Siachen, bordering Xinjiang and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, it is over 5,000 sq km; India says Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq km to China under the unrecognised 1963 boundary agreement. China reportedly built ~75 km all-weather road via 4,805 m Aghil Pass (mid-2024) under CPEC, potentially enabling patrols within 50 km of Indira Col, raising two-front contingencies; linked to “salami slicing”.

India’s urban growth is increasingly driven by small towns. Of nearly 9,000 census and statutory towns, only ~500 are large cities; most have populations below one lakh. Metros face land-price rises, congestion and infrastructure stress, dispersing logistics, agro-processing, warehousing and services to small towns. These absorb migrants but rely on informal work amid weak regulation, poor services and groundwater stress; municipalities remain underfunded, needing integrated planning and stronger finances.

In the Henley Passport Index 2026, India improved to 80th rank from 85th in 2025. The index ranks the world’s passports based on the number of destinations accessible without obtaining a prior visa, using exclusive data from the International Air Transport Association (IATA). In the 2026 edition, Singapore retained its position as the top-ranked passport globally.

Supreme Court directed Central and State Governments to frame and notify rules under Section 38 of the Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act, 2009, to implement Section 12(1)(c) mandating 25% free seats for weaker and disadvantaged children. Rulemaking must consult NCPCR/SCPCRs and National/State Advisory Councils. NCPCR/SCPCRs are under the 2005 Act and monitor RTE. RTE gives effect to Article 21A (6–14 years).

Supreme Court split in CPIL v Union of India on Section 17A, PCA 1988 (2018 amendment), requiring prior sanction to investigate public servants. Justice Viswanathan upheld it if sanction decided by Lokpal/State Lokayukta; Justice BV Nagarathna held Article 14 violation. Matter before CJI. Corruption: illegal gratification; max 5-year jail; covers bribing foreign officials; Lokpal Act 2013, CVC 2003, RTI 2005, UNCAC ratified 2011.

India’s January harvest festivals mark seasonal change, the Sun’s northward journey (Uttarayana) and crop harvests. Makar Sankranti (Maharashtra) marks the Sun’s transition into Capricorn. Uttarayana (Gujarat, Rajasthan) features kite flying. Pongal (Tamil Nadu) is a four-day festival: Bhogi, Thai Pongal, Mattu Pongal, Kaanum Pongal, with the Pongal dish. Lohri (Punjab), before Sankranti, marks Rabi harvest with bonfires, folk songs, Bhangra-Gidda. Magh Bihu (Assam) celebrates harvest end with feasts, games and Meji bonfires. Kanuma (Telangana) thanks the agriculture sector.

At the 16th annual IRENA Assembly (2026) in Abu Dhabi, UAE, India reaffirmed commitment to a just, equitable, affordable and sustainable global energy transition. IRENA, an intergovernmental organisation founded in 2009 and headquartered in Abu Dhabi, has 171 members; India is a founder member. Theme: “Powering Humanity: Renewable Energy for Shared Prosperity.” Dominican Republic presides; Vice Presidents: Kenya, Solomon Islands, Spain, Antigua and Barbuda.

Families in Kathputli Nagar, Jaipur (Pink City), preserve Kathputli, among Rajasthan’s oldest folk-art forms. A puppet is an inanimate figure animated by a puppeteer; evidence of puppetry traces to the Indus Valley Civilisation (c. 2500 BC terracotta doll) and Egypt (c. 2000 BC). World Puppetry Day is observed on 21 March, instituted in 2003 by UNIMA. Kathputli (kath-wood, putli-doll) are string marionettes carved from wood, costumed, depicting folk tales, Ramayana-Mahabharata, heroic ballads and social messages with dholak-harmonium accompaniment.

Smooth-coated otter (Lutrogale perspicillata) was recently sighted in the Adyar River at Tholkappia Poonga eco-park, Chennai. It inhabits freshwater-rich rivers, wetlands and lakes, preferring shallow placid waters, with distribution across India from Himalayas to southern India including Western Ghats and northeast. India has three otter types (Eurasian, smooth-coated, small-clawed) of 13 globally. It is IUCN Vulnerable, Schedule I under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972; threats include habitat loss, fish decline, pollution, poaching and pesticides; an apex predator indicating cleaner rivers.

ISRO’s Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC) issued an Expression of Interest to manufacture two sets of Bharatiya Antariksh Station (BAS-1) structure. BAS-1, planned in Low Earth Orbit, is included in the revised scope of the Gaganyaan Programme as an Indian human spaceflight platform. The first base module (BAS-01) is planned by 2028; the five-module station is targeted to be fully operational by 2035, supporting microgravity research, technology development, innovation and industrial participation.

IIT Madras research, using 15 years of CALIPSO satellite data, links elevated aerosol concentrations with thicker winter fog and larger droplets near the fog top. Aerosols induce vertical mixing through latent heat release, lifting fog tops to about 400–600 m and significantly delaying dissipation. This thickening traps pollutants near the surface, worsening air quality in a feedback loop; reducing aerosol emissions is a key mitigation lever.

ISRO reported that Aditya-L1 recorded and decoded the impact of a powerful solar storm on Earth’s magnetic shield. India’s first space-based solar mission, launched by PSLV-C57 in 2023, is placed in a halo orbit around Lagrange point 1 (L1). The storm, from a massive solar plasma eruption, showed turbulent regions compressing Earth’s magnetic field, exposing geostationary satellites to harsh conditions, underscoring space-weather risks to satellites and communication.

ISRO’s PSLV-C62 launched EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite with 15 co-passengers, but reported a third-stage anomaly. It was PSLV’s 64th flight and NSIL’s 9th dedicated commercial mission; NSIL (incorporated 2019) is a Department of Space-controlled government company and ISRO’s commercial arm. EOS-N1 and 14 satellites entered Sun-synchronous orbit; Spanish KID re-entry demonstrator targets South Pacific splashdown. PSLV is India’s first liquid-stage launcher, capable of 1,750 kg to 600-km SSO; it launched 104 satellites in 2017.

Swami Vivekananda (born 12 January 1863, Calcutta), disciple of Ramakrishna Paramhans, addressed the Parliament of the World’s Religions, Chicago (1893), introducing Hinduism to the West, and founded the Ramakrishna Mission (1897). His Neo-Vedanta stressed oneness, equality and universalism; knowledge as enduring; religion’s worth in uplifting humanity; and holistic education (physical-mental-spiritual). Relevance: inclusivity, breaking caste/creed, mindfulness, and blending spirituality with modernity.

MeitY launched ‘Param Shakti’ at IIT Madras, funded under the National Supercomputing Mission (NSM). It is an indigenously developed 3.1 Petaflop system, built on C-DAC’s RUDRA servers with an open-source stack (AlmaLinux), supporting aerospace, materials, climate modelling, drug discovery and advanced manufacturing. NSM (2015) connects 70+ HPC facilities via National Supercomputing Grid over NKN; steered by DST and MeitY; implemented by C-DAC Pune and IISc Bengaluru; includes PARAM 8000, Param Pravega, Param Shivay, AIRAWAT.

DRDO’s Defence Research and Development Laboratory (DRDL) ground-tested a full-scale, actively cooled, long-duration scramjet (Supersonic Combustion Ramjet) combustor for over 12 minutes, aiding the indigenous Hypersonic Cruise Missile Development Program. Ramjet/scramjet are air-breathing engines using forward motion for compression and need assisted take-off. Hypersonic weapons exceed Mach 5 (>6,100 km/h); types include Hypersonic Glide Vehicles and Hypersonic Cruise Missiles.

Financial Intelligence Unit–India (FIU-IND) issued updated guidelines for Virtual Digital Asset (VDA) service providers, bringing them under the AML/CFT/CPF framework with due diligence and reporting obligations. Since 2023, such providers fall under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002. Entities must appoint a Principal Officer, collect data on unhosted wallet transfers, and obtain a CERT-In empanelled cybersecurity audit certificate. VDAs (Income-tax Act, 1961) include NFTs; transfer income is taxed at 30% plus surcharge and cess.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas, a biennial flagship event, is observed on 9 January, commemorating Mahatma Gandhi’s 1915 return from South Africa. The Indian diaspora covers migrants from present-day India: NRIs, PIOs and OCI; PIO and OCI were merged as OCI in 2015. As of Jan 2025, diaspora is 34.35 million (17.17 million NRIs), contributing as Rashtradoots, through USD 135 billion remittances (FY25), the 4Cs framework, KIP (18–35) and ICWF support.

Union Home Minister chaired the 9th Apex Level Narco-Coordination Centre (NCORD) meeting in New Delhi to review national anti-drug efforts, focusing on coordination for drug law enforcement and measures to control trafficking and abuse. NCORD, under the Ministry of Home Affairs, was established in 2016 and restructured in 2019, with a four-tier framework. It supports enforcement of the NDPS Act, 1985, and initiatives include the NCORD Portal, MANAS helpline (1933), and NIDAAN database.

Madhya Pradesh CM announced the newly designated Ratapani Tiger Reserve is named after archaeologist and Padma Shri awardee Dr Vishnu Shridhar Wakankar. Located in Raisen and Sehore districts in the Vindhya ranges, it covers 1,271 sq km, north of the Narmada; Kolar River marks the western boundary. Key water bodies: Barna Reservoir and Ratapani Dam (Barrusot Lake). It includes Bhimbetka UNESCO World Heritage rock shelters, and sites like Ginnourgarh Fort/POW camp, Keri Mahadeo, Ratapani/Jholiyapur dams. Forests are dry and moist deciduous; teak covers ~55%. Apex predator: tiger; ~40 estimated. Other fauna: panther, hyena, jackal, Indian fox, wild dog, jungle cat, small Indian civet, blue bull, chinkara (endangered), black buck, chausingha, spotted deer, barking deer.