NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Army Hospital Creates History with India’s First 3D
Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent: India’s
first 3D Flex Aqueous Angiography with iStent was successfully performed
by the Ophthalmology Department at Army Hospital (Research & Referral),
Delhi Cantt, marking a major milestone in glaucoma treatment.The procedure used
a stand-mounted Spectralis imaging system and a 3D operating microscope, enabling
real-time visualization of aqueous outflow pathways for highly precise,
minimally invasive surgery.This breakthrough sets a new benchmark in glaucoma
care in India, significantly improving surgical accuracy, patient outcomes, and
positioning Armed Forces Medical Services among global leaders in ophthalmic
innovation.
2. NTH and NHAI Sign MoU to Enhance Quality Assurance in
National Highway Projects: National Test House
(NTH) has signed an MoU with the National Highways Authority of India
(NHAI) to strengthen quality control, inspection and third-party testing in
national highway and infrastructure projects.Under the agreement, NTH will be
empanelled as a recognised laboratory for NHAI, allowing highway construction
and allied work samples to be sent for scientific testing and
inspection.Established in 1912 and functioning under the Department of Consumer
Affairs, NTH will also support NHAI through online test requests, digital
payments, nodal officer coordination and expert participation in technical
committees.
3. C R Patil Launches ‘Jal Seva Aankalan’ to Boost
Community-Led Water Governance under Jal Jeevan Mission: Union Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil virtually launched Jal
Seva Aankalan to strengthen service delivery and community ownership under
the Jal Jeevan Mission.Jal Seva Aankalan is a Gram Panchayat-led digital
assessment tool available on the Jal Jeevan Mission portal to evaluate drinking
water service functionality at the village level.The initiative is designed as
a community-owned self-assessment, reducing dependence on infrequent and costly
third-party surveys, with all Har Ghar Jal Gram Panchayats required to complete
it by 26 January next year.The tool will empower Gram Panchayats, strengthen
democratic decision-making through Gram Sabhas, ensure transparency, and help
identify service delivery gaps early for timely corrective action.
4. Karnataka Records First Sighting of
Ultra-Rare ‘Sandalwood Leopard’: Karnataka has documented its first-ever
sighting of an ultra-rare leopard colour morph, informally named the
“Sandalwood Leopard”, marking only the second confirmed instance of this rare
big cat in India. The discovery, made in the Vijayanagara district, has drawn
national and global attention to the state’s rich and genetically diverse
wildlife. The Sandalwood Leopard is distinguished by a pale reddish-pink coat
with light-brown rosettes, a stark contrast to the typical tawny coat with
black rosettes seen in Indian leopards. The female leopard, estimated to be
around six to seven years old, was captured on camera traps during wildlife
research surveys. In subsequent images, she was seen alongside a cub with a normal
tawny coat, highlighting the rarity of the adult’s coloration.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Sheikh Khalifa Medical City Makes Global History with
First Administration of ITVISMA Gene Therapy: Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, Abu Dhabi, has become the first hospital
in the world to administer ITVISMA, a one-time gene therapy for
spinal muscular atrophy (SMA), marking a significant milestone in precision
medicine.The therapy was administered under the supervision of the Department
of Health, Abu Dhabi, after receiving regulatory approval, making the UAE the
second country after the United States to authorise this advanced
treatment.Developed by Novartis, ITVISMA targets the genetic root cause of SMA
by replacing the defective SMN1 gene, enabling the production of the survival
motor neuron (SMN) protein.As a single-dose gene therapy approved for patients
aged two years and above, ITVISMA expands access beyond infant-only treatments
and offers the potential for sustained motor improvement with reduced long-term
treatment dependence.
2. Why did the US strike Venezuela and
Captured President Nicolas Maduro?: In the early hours of January 3, the United States carried out what President “Donald
Trump” described as a “large-scale” military strike on Venezuela, followed by the dramatic claim that
Venezuelan President “Nicolás Maduro” and his wife had been captured and flown
out of the country. While Washington has offered few operational details and
Caracas has not confirmed the capture, the episode marks the most direct US
military action against Venezuela in decades — and raises
fundamental questions about legality, regional stability, and America’s
evolving use of force in the Western Hemisphere. Explosions were reported across the Venezuelan capital “Caracas” around
2 am local time. Residents described low-flying aircraft, shaking buildings,
and power outages in parts of the city. Smoke was seen rising from military
installations, including the La Carlota airfield and the sprawling Fuerte Tiuna
complex, both central to Venezuela’s defence infrastructure.Soon after,
President Trump announced on social media that US forces had conducted a
coordinated operation with American law-enforcement agencies and had “captured”
Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. The Venezuelan government, while condemning
what it called “extremely serious military aggression,” said it had no
confirmation of the president’s whereabouts and demanded proof of life.
3. India–Australia Trade at Zero Tariffs: Why
ECTA Is Quietly Redrawing the Indo-Pacific Economic Map: As of January 1, 2026, every Indian
product entering Australia does so without paying a single
rupee in tariff. No carve-outs, no fine print. Three years after the Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade
Agreement (ECTA) came into force, Australia has fully eliminated tariffs on
Indian exports — offering Indian businesses unfettered access to a nearly
$2-trillion economy. In a world where trade barriers are rising, this stands
out as a rare, consequential success story. The most
striking outcome of “Australia-India Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement”
is that Australia has now removed tariffs on 100% of Indian goods exports. This
includes textiles, engineering goods, pharmaceuticals, automobiles, gems and jewellery,
agricultural products, and processed foods.In return, India has progressively
reduced or eliminated duties on a wide range of Australian exports —
particularly coal, critical minerals, metals, wine, and certain
agricultural products — creating a two-way flow that benefits both economies.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. Rakesh Aggarwal Assigned Additional Charge as Interim
DG of NIA Following Sadanand Date’s Repatriation: The Ministry of Home
Affairs (MHA) has assigned
the additional charge of NIA Director General to Rakesh Aggarwal
following the premature repatriation of the incumbent DG, Sadanand Vasant Date,
to his parent cadre.Rakesh Aggarwal, a 1994-batch Himachal Pradesh cadre IPS
officer and current Special Director General of NIA, will hold the interim
charge until a regular DG is appointed or further orders are issued.
2. Lav Aggarwal Appointed DG of DGFT Amid Key
Bureaucratic Reshuffle: Lav
Aggarwal has been appointed as Director General of the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT),
approved by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet as part of a bureaucratic
reshuffle.Rabindra Kumar Agarwal,
currently Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Cooperation, has been
appointed as Chairman & Managing
Director of the Food Corporation of India (FCI), replacing Ashutosh Agnihotri, who is now
Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate
Change.Srikant Nagulapalli, Additional Secretary in the Ministry of Power, has
been appointed as Director General of Hydrocarbons in the Ministry of Petroleum
& Natural Gas.Nidhi Pandey, currently Joint Secretary in the Department of
Atomic Energy, will now serve as Additional Secretary, Department of Atomic
Energy, taking over a key administrative role.
3. MoD Signs ₹4,666 Crore Defence Contracts for CQB
Carbines and Heavy Weight Torpedoes: The Ministry of Defence (MoD) signed defence procurement contracts worth ₹4,666
crore for the acquisition of Close Quarter Battle (CQB) Carbines and Heavy Weight Torpedoes, in
the presence of Defence Secretary Shri Rajesh Kumar Singh at South Block, New
Delhi.This move aligns with the ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’ initiative, aiming to
replace legacy weapon systems and equip Indian soldiers with modern,
world-class combat capabilities.A contract worth around ₹1,896 crore was signed
with WASS Submarine Systems S.R.L., Italy, for the procurement and integration
of 48 Heavy Weight Torpedoes for the Kalvari Class (P-75) submarines of the
Indian Navy, significantly boosting their combat strength.In FY 2025-26, the
MoD has signed capital acquisition contracts worth ₹1,82,492 crore, reflecting
a major push towards modernisation of the Indian Armed Forces.
4. India Successfully Conducts Salvo Launch of Indigenous
‘Pralay’ Ballistic Missiles off Odisha Coast: India successfully conducted a salvo launch of two indigenously
developed ‘Pralay’ missiles off the Odisha coast as part of user
evaluation trials.The test was carried out by DRDO and witnessed by officials
from the Indian Army, Indian Air Force, and industry partners involved in
development and production.‘Pralay’ is a surface-to-surface, short-range
ballistic missile with a strike range of 150–500 km, capable of carrying
multiple warhead types and equipped with advanced guidance systems for high
precision.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
1. Delhi Govt Partners with IIT Kanpur to Launch AI-Based
Unified Grievance Redressal System: The Delhi government, in partnership with IIT Kanpur, will
launch an AI-based Unified
Grievance Redressal System to ensure faster complaint resolution
and real-time monitoring.The system will integrate multiple grievance
portals—including PGMS, LG Listening Post, and the Centralised Public Grievance
Redress and Monitoring System—into a single unified dashboard for smarter
analysis and quicker action.Advanced AI features like semantic search, root
cause analysis, automatic grievance routing, and digitisation of complaint
documents will enhance efficiency, accuracy, and accountability in handling
public grievances.IIT Kanpur will manage system integration, cybersecurity
audits, and portal maintenance, aiming to improve transparency, efficiency, and
performance-based evaluation of departments and regions in grievance
resolution.
2. Gujarat CM Approves Establishment of Indian AI
Research Organisation (IAIRO) to Boost AI R&D: Gujarat CM Bhupendra Patel granted
in-principle approval for the
establishment of the Indian AI Research Organisation (IAIRO) to
boost AI research and development in the state.The facility will be set up as a
public-private partnership (PPP) through collaboration between the State
government, Central government, and Indian Pharmaceutical Alliance (IPA), with
operations based in GIFT City, Gandhinagar, as a Section 8 non-profit
entity.The estimated budget for the first five years is ₹300 crore, equally
contributed by the State, Centre, and private partner, with IPA contributing
₹25 crore in 2025–26; the alliance includes 23 leading pharmaceutical companies
such as Cipla, Sun Pharma, and Torrent Pharmaceuticals.IAIRO will function as a
multidisciplinary AI hub, focusing on advanced R&D, AI product development,
academic-industry-government collaboration, intellectual property creation,
capacity building, and policy-oriented research, supporting sectors like
healthcare, education, and agriculture.
3. How Climate Change Is Intensifying India’s
Lead Poisoning Crisis: Lead exposure remains one of the most under-recognised
public health emergencies in India — and climate change is quietly making it worse. While
the phase-out of leaded petrol and incremental regulation have reduced some
risks, there is still no safe level of lead in the human body. Even minimal
exposure can irreversibly damage children’s brains, impair learning, and
increase the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. As climate extremes
intensify, they are disturbing old reservoirs of lead in soil, water, housing
and waste, compounding a crisis that already affects millions of Indians. The
consequences extend far beyond individual health. Lead exposure undermines
educational outcomes, reduces lifetime earnings, and erodes long-term economic
productivity — costs that accumulate silently across generations.
BANKING AND FINANCE
1. Government Retains Interest Rates on Small Savings
Schemes for 8th Straight Quarter: The government has
kept interest rates unchanged for
12 small savings schemes, including PPF and Sukanya Samriddhi, for the
March quarter, marking the 8th consecutive quarter with no rate revision.This
decision comes despite a 125 basis points cut in the repo rate by the RBI over
the past year, bringing the policy rate down to 5.25% during the ongoing easing
cycle.As per the Department of Economic Affairs, PPF will continue to offer
7.1% interest, while Sukanya Samriddhi accounts will earn 8.2% during the March
quarter.Collections from small savings schemes help finance the Centre’s fiscal
deficit; the government plans to raise ₹3.43 lakh crore in FY26 from the
National Small Savings Fund as it targets reducing the fiscal deficit to 4.4%
of GDP.
2. ATM Numbers Decline in FY25 as Digitisation Rises,
Bank Branch Network Continues to Expand: RBI Report: According to the RBI’s Trend
and Progress of Banking in India for FY25, the total number
of ATMs declined moderately to 2,51,057 as of March 31, 2025, primarily
due to the increased digitisation of payments, which reduced customer
dependence on cash transactions.Both public and private sector banks reduced
their ATM networks, with private banks’ ATMs falling to 77,117 and public
sector banks’ ATMs declining to
1,33,544, largely because of the closure of offsite ATMs.In contrast,
independently-run white label ATMs increased to 36,216, while ATM distribution
showed that PSBs had a balanced rural–urban spread, whereas private and foreign
banks were concentrated in urban and metropolitan areas.Despite digital
alternatives, bank branches continued to expand, rising by 2.8% to 1.64 lakh
branches, with PSBs leading new openings, particularly in rural and semi-urban
centres, reflecting a continued focus on financial inclusion.
3. India Post and SIDBI Sign MoU to Verify Informal Micro
Enterprises on Udyam Assist Platform:
The Department of Posts and
SIDBI have signed an MoU
to conduct Contact Point Verification (CPV) of informal micro
enterprises registered on the Udyam Assist Platform, aiming to enhance data
integrity, formalisation, and access to institutional credit.Under the
collaboration, India Post will leverage its nationwide network of over 1.64
lakh post offices and trained field workforce to carry out on-ground,
geo-tagged verification of enterprise details using a SIDBI-developed CPV
mobile application.SIDBI, the principal financial institution for MSME
development, will provide the digital platform, backend infrastructure,
operational guidelines, and training, with the MoU valid for two years (Dec 31,
2025–Dec 30, 2027) and provisions for extension, data security, and compliance.
AWARDS AND HONOURS
1. Amit Shah Inaugurates ₹227 Crore Redeveloped Batadrava Than Honouring Srimanta Sankardeva in Assam: Union Home Minister Amit Shah inaugurated the ₹227 crore redeveloped Batadrava Than, the birthplace of Vaishnavite saint Srimanta Sankardeva, in Assam’s Nagaon district.The decision to redevelop the site, named as Mahapurush Srimanta Sankardeva Abhirbhav Kshetra, was first proposed in the 2021-22 State budget. project has been designed not only make the historic site a major tourist attraction but also to reflect the life, ideals, and artistic heritage associated with Mahapurush Sankardeva and the broader cultural traditions of the State.
No comments:
Post a Comment