Current Affairs

The 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC) was held in Lucknow, highlighting presiding officers’ roles in Parliament, State legislatures and polling stations. Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla has served since 17 June 2019; Speaker decides Money Bill and disqualification under anti-defection law. State Assembly Speaker/Deputy (Article 178) and Council Chairman/Deputy (Article 182) are elected. Polling presiding officers, appointed by District Election Officer, are bound by Representation of the People Act, 1951, and maintain a Presiding Officer’s Diary.

Odisha’s 2026 annual census in and around Bhitarkanika National Park recorded an increase in saltwater/estuarine crocodiles (Crocodylus porosus), the world’s largest reptile, tolerant of salinity (coastal/riverine; also freshwater swamps). Largest population occurs in Odisha; also in Andaman and Nicobar mangroves. Major concentration: Kanika, then Rajnagar, Mahakalpada (Mahanadi delta) and Gahirmatha ranges. Carnivorous; adults >8 ft. Protected under Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (Schedule I); IUCN: Least Concern; threats: illegal hunting, habitat loss, negative attitudes. World Crocodile Day: June 17; Crocodile Conservation Project started April 1, 1975.

Delhi High Court permitted Zydus Lifesciences to manufacture and sell a biosimilar of Nivolumab, a monoclonal antibody immunotherapy drug. Nivolumab enhances immune response by blocking the PD-1 receptor, enabling recognition and destruction of cancer cells. Monoclonal antibodies are lab-produced molecules for targeted action. Used for lung, renal, head and neck, melanoma, urothelial, oesophageal and gastric cancers; adult dosing 240 mg biweekly or 480 mg every 4 weeks. Brands: Opdivo (outside India), Opdyta (India).

Union Minister Dr Jitendra Singh released two books, ‘Gen V Bano’ and ‘Mahatma’, at the first NAMO Book Fest in New Delhi. The two-day festival featured a curated exhibition of books on PM Narendra Modi’s life, ideas and leadership, and provided a platform for dialogue among authors, intellectuals and youth on governance, nation-building and innovation, highlighting inspiration, leadership and ethical living.

Marine scientists on a Victoria University of Wellington-led deep-sea expedition found a giant black coral in deep waters off Fiordland, New Zealand. It is over 13 ft tall and nearly 15 ft wide, ~300–400 years old, and grows a few mm/year in deep, cold waters; living tissue looks pale though the skeleton is black. It provides habitat and records ocean conditions, is vulnerable to fishing gear/anchoring/seabed activity, and is protected under New Zealand’s Wildlife Act; mapping colonies aids conservation.

On 17 January 2026, the Supreme Court (Bench: M. M. Sundresh and Satish Chandra Sharma) held that unreserved seats in public recruitment are open to all on merit; SC/ST/OBC candidates qualifying without relaxations (lower cut-off, age or fee concessions) must be counted against unreserved seats under the “merit-induced shift” doctrine. Citing Articles 14 and 16, it set aside the Kerala High Court (2020) verdict in a 2013 AAI Junior Assistant (Fire Service) recruitment dispute, guiding central and state agencies.

In January 2026, the Government of India blocked 242 illegal betting and gambling website links, taking total enforcement takedowns to 7,800+ platforms. Action was strengthened after the Online Gaming Act, which distinguishes permissible online games from illegal betting/wagering and enables coordination with ISPs, payment gateways and digital intermediaries for domain-level blocking. Outcomes include quicker takedowns, disrupted transactions and reduced re-emergence; risks flagged include tax evasion, money laundering and youth addiction. Skill-based games are allowed, while betting/gambling remains largely prohibited except limited state-specific contexts.

INS Sagardhwani (A74) was flagged off from Kochi for the fifth Sagar Maitri mission (SM-5) for scientific ocean research and international collaboration. Built by GRSE and commissioned in 1994, it is operated by the Indian Navy and owned by NPOL, Kochi (DRDO). A MARS, it has eight acoustically isolated labs, HAL Chetak helipad, cranes/gantry, low-noise design; it supports DRDO’s Underwater Domain Awareness, retracing INS Kistna’s IIOE (1962–65) routes, strengthening IOR cooperation.

PM Narendra Modi addressed the Bagurumba Dwhou 2026 cultural programme at Sarusajai Stadium, Guwahati, Assam, featuring a mass, synchronised Bagurumba (“butterfly”) dance of the Bodo community by 10,000+ artists. The nature-inspired dance uses Dokhna, Jwmgra (Fasra) and Aronai attire, and Sifung, Kham, Serja and Tharkha music; linked to Bwisagu/Domasi and enabled by the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord.

PM performed Bhoomi Pujan of the Kaziranga Elevated Wildlife Corridor Project, Assam. Approved by the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs on 1 October 2025, it covers the Kaliabor–Numaligarh section of NH-715 across Nagaon, Karbi Anglong and Golaghat, linking Kaziranga National Park with Karbi Anglong Hills. Implemented in EPC mode, it includes a 35 km elevated corridor, 21 km greenfield bypasses and 30 km widening to four lanes, enabling flood-time wildlife movement, reducing conflict, decongesting Jakhalabandha and Bokakhat, improving safety, and protecting the UNESCO site.

Indiaphonte bijoyi, a microscopic crustacean from sediments of Kavaratti lagoon, Lakshadweep (south-eastern Arabian Sea off India’s south-west coast), has been formally recognised as a new genus and new species. The genus name honours India; the species name honours S. Bijoy Nandan, Dean, Faculty of Marine Sciences, CUSAT. A <1 mm meiofauna, it supports ecosystem health, produces omega-3s (EPA, DHA), serves as a pollution-sensitive bio-indicator, and is used as live feed for fish larvae.

The 18th India–Japan Strategic Dialogue in New Delhi reaffirmed the Special Strategic and Global Partnership (upgraded 2014). Key outcomes included a private-sector economic security dialogue on semiconductors, critical minerals, ICT, clean energy and pharmaceuticals; a Japan–India AI Strategic Dialogue under JAI; early convening of a Joint Working Group on Mineral Resources; and Japan’s plan to invite 500 highly skilled Indian AI professionals by 2030. Cooperation continues under CEPA (2011), the 2+2 defence dialogue and the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail project.

Supreme Court upheld the Lok Sabha Speaker’s inquiry committee on allegations against Justice Yashwant Varma, holding that rejection of a removal motion in one House does not bar the other House from proceeding. Removal of SC/HC judges is under Articles 124 and 218 for proven misbehaviour/incapacity, regulated by the Judges Enquiry Act, 1968; motion needs 100 (LS)/50 (RS) signatures; a 3-member committee inquires; removal requires special majority in both Houses and a President’s order.

The RBI notified the Reserve Bank–Integrated Ombudsman Scheme (RB-IOS) 2026, effective from July 1, 2026, as a cost-effective, expeditious, non-adversarial alternate grievance redress mechanism for complaints on services of RBI-regulated entities. RBI may appoint Ombudsman/Deputy Ombudsman (generally 3 years) and set up a Centralised Receipt and Processing Centre. No dispute-amount limit; compensation up to ₹30 lakh; appeals within 30 days; regulated entities must appoint a Principal Nodal Officer.

A satellite-visible phytoplankton bloom (tiny photosynthetic organisms proliferating rapidly) recently encircled the Chatham Islands in the austral summer. The South Pacific group lies ~800 km east of New Zealand and is its easternmost territory, comprising 10 mainly volcanic islands with limestone areas. Only Chatham and Pitt are inhabited; the islands are the first inhabited place to see sunrise. Moriori (Rekohu) and Māori (Wharekauri) names persist; Moriori descendants live there. Population ~720; main settlement Waitangi (also Te One, Port Hutt, Kāingaroa, Ōwenga); economy relies on fishing, farming, tourism.

PM inaugurated the 28th Conference of Speakers and Presiding Officers of the Commonwealth (CSPOC) in New Delhi, highlighting India’s commitment to share open-source tech platforms with the Global South. CSPOC comprises Speakers/presiding officers of Commonwealth national parliaments; created in 1969 by Lucien Lamoureux (Canada), with secretariat support from Canada; independent, unaffiliated to CPA/Commonwealth Secretariat/CHOGM; two-year cycle (biennial conference, interim Standing Committee). Commonwealth: voluntary 56 states, mostly ex-British; no constitution/bylaws; consultative functioning; Charter (Dec 2012) values democracy, good governance, human rights, rule of law, sustainable development, peace; administered by London-based Commonwealth Secretariat; Gabon and Togo joined in 2022; India is largest member (~60% population).

Recent geological studies identify Australia’s Finke River as the world’s oldest continuously surviving river system (c. 300–400 million years). About 640 km long, it traverses Northern Territory and parts of South Australia in the arid interior; Arrernte people call it Larapinta. Though intermittent, waterholes and dry channels form one system. It cuts quartzite MacDonnell Ranges gorges, explained by antecedence. Evidence includes erosion patterns, sediments and radioactive isotope dating; survival is linked to an entrenched channel and slow geological change.

Google launched TranslateGemma on January 15, 2026, an open suite of translation-focused AI models built on Gemma 3. It supports translation across 55 languages, with 4B, 12B and 27B parameter variants for deployment from mobile/edge to cloud (GPUs/TPUs). Training uses two-stage fine-tuning (supervised + reinforcement learning). Evaluated on WMT24++; training expanded to nearly 500 language pairs; improves text-in-image translation.

Latest crocodile census shows an increase in Similipal National Park, Mayurbhanj, Odisha (2750 sq km), named after the Simul tree. It is a National Park, Tiger Reserve, Wildlife Sanctuary, Biosphere Reserve and part of Mayurbhanj Elephant Reserve, in the Deccan Peninsular biogeographic zone, with Western Ghats–Eastern Ghats–eastern Himalayan biodiversity. Features Joranda and Barehipani waterfalls; highest peaks Khairiburu–Meghashini (1515 m). Tribal groups include Kolha, Santhala, Bhumija, Bhatudi, Gondas, Khadia, Mankadia and Sahara. Vegetation: moist mixed deciduous (Sal dominant), tropical semi-evergreen pockets, dry deciduous and grasslands; holds 7% flowering plants and 8% of India’s orchids; known for tiger, elephant, hill mynah; highest tiger population in Odisha and unique melanistic tigers.

Scientists confirmed India’s first reported pufferfish poisoning due to tetrodotoxin (TTX). Pufferfish (order Tetraodontiformes; toadfish/patkafish/balloonfish/fugu) are omnivorous, benthic, found in Western Ghats and Ganga–Brahmaputra–Mahanadi basins; Indian waters have 8 genera and 32 species; IUCN: Vulnerable. TTX is a heat-stable, water-soluble potent neurotoxin blocking nerve sodium channels, causing paralysis/respiratory failure/death, likely originating from symbiotic/ingested bacteria (Vibrio, Pseudomonas, Aeromonas, Bacillus).

Swedish aerospace and defence firm Saab showcased RBS-15 (Robotsystem 15) missile capability to destroy identified components of Russia’s S-400 system. Developed by Saab Bofors Dynamics, RBS-15 is a fire-and-forget surface-to-surface/air-to-surface anti-ship missile with land-attack capability; range 200 km, subsonic Mach 0.9, 200-kg HE pre-fragmented warhead. It uses INS+GPS, radar altimeter and Ku-band seeker, low signatures, ECM resistance, and MEPS planning.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah laid the foundation stone for India’s first fully state-funded, state-controlled BSL-4 facility at Sector-28, Gandhinagar. Built under Gujarat State Biotechnology Mission, it is a national facility via DBT MoU; 11,000 sq m, ₹362 crore; planned mid-2022; operated by Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre (BSL-2+, SARS-CoV-2 sequencing). Complex has BSL-4/3/2 and ABSL-4/3 modules; regulated per CDC, NIH, DBT, ICMR; enables diagnostics/vaccines/therapeutics, outbreak response, and animal research (earlier sent to ICAR-NIHSAD). India’s functional civilian BSL-4 is NIV Pune; DRDO set up BSL-4 at Gwalior (late 2024); ICAR-NIHSAD Bhopal ABSL-3+ upgrading to ABSL-4 (June 2025), ICAR-ICFMD Bhubaneswar ABSL-3Ag; ~69 BSL-4 labs globally. VRDL: 165 labs (154 BSL-2, 11 BSL-3); ICMR: 21 labs (1/8/12); DST-ANRF IRHPA: 5 BSL/ABSL-3; DBT: 26; ICAR: 9; CSIR: 11.

Department of Posts delivered its first online order booked through the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) on 15 January 2026, as a Logistics Service Provider. The first consignment was booked on 13 January 2026 by UdyamWell and delivered two days later. Under ONDC’s “Click & Book” model, sellers generate pickup requests, pay postage at pickup, and use India Post for tracked pickup, transport and last-mile delivery, improving interoperability and choice for small businesses.

Andhra Pradesh hosts the world’s largest green ammonia project at Kakinada, developed by AM Green via conversion of an existing ammonia-urea complex, with $10 billion investment. Capacity targets: 0.5 MTPA (2027), 1.0 (2028), 1.5 (2030). Backed by ~7.5 GW solar/wind, ~1,950 MW electrolysers and ~2 GW round-the-clock renewables, with storage via pumped hydro (Pinnapuram). Enables India’s first green ammonia exports; long-term supply pact with Germany’s Uniper; offtake talks with Japan and Singapore. Up to 8,000 construction jobs. Aligns with National Green Hydrogen Mission; green ammonia uses renewable power/green hydrogen, for clean shipping fuel, power generation and hydrogen carrier.

The Government has invited nominations for the Sukhatme National Award in Statistics, instituted by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation. It recognises individual, high-quality research contributions aimed at improving the system of official statistics. The award comprises a shawl and memento. It has been conferred in alternate years since 2000. Eligibility: Indian statisticians aged 45 years and above for lifetime contributions and achievements in statistics.

WHO released two global reports reviewing health taxes on sugar-sweetened beverages and alcohol. Such taxes can reduce consumption and help prevent non-communicable diseases (obesity, diabetes, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, mental disorders) while raising government revenue for health. A UK sugary drinks tax (2018) is associated with reduced sugar consumption, reduced obesity and higher revenue. Alcohol has become more affordable as taxes often aren’t adjusted for inflation and income growth. Some sugary products escape taxation, including 100% fruit juices, sweetened milk, and ready-to-drink coffees/teas.