NATIONAL UPDATES:
1. New
Reed Snake Species Calamaria Mizoramensis Discovered in Mizoram: Researchers have discovered a new species of reed snake in Mizoram,
underscoring the state’s rich but still underexplored biodiversity. The
non-venomous species has been named “Calamaria mizoramensis”, after the state
where it was found. The discovery adds to India’s growing list of endemic
reptiles and highlights the ecological significance of forested hill regions in
the Northeast. The discovery was led by Prof. H. T. Lalremsanga
of Mizoram University, along with researcher Malsawmdawngliana Fanai
and collaborators from Russia, Germany, and Vietnam. The
findings were formally published on January 5, 2026, in the peer-reviewed
journal Zootaxa. The team confirmed that the species belongs to the genus
“Calamaria”, which currently comprises 69 recognised species worldwide.
2. India’s
First Hydrogen Train to Begin Trials on Jind–Sonipat Route: India is set to enter a new phase of green mobility with the launch of
its first hydrogen-powered train, scheduled to begin trial operations on
the Jind–Sonipat route in Haryana from January 26, 2026. The landmark
initiative aligns with Indian Railways’ broader strategy to reduce dependence
on diesel traction and cut carbon emissions from rail transport. The inaugural
trial run is expected to be flagged off by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The
90-kilometre Jind–Sonipat section has been selected as the pilot corridor for
this eco-friendly technology. Officials say the hydrogen train will
initially operate at speeds ranging from 110 to 140 kmph, completing the
journey in nearly one hour, compared to the two hours taken by existing diesel
services.
3. Explained:
The AI-171 Crash, ICAO Rules, and Why Transparency Has Become the Central
Question: Nearly two decades ago, in March 2006, the Chairman of
the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO), Assad Kotoite,
delivered a warning that now reads like prophecy.
Aviation safety, he said, could
survive only on one unbroken thread — transparency. Weakness in one state, he
cautioned, inevitably becomes weakness for all.That warning has returned to
haunt India after the crash of Air India flight 171 at Ahmedabad on June 12,
2025 — an accident that killed 241 of the 242 people on board and 19 more on
the ground, within seconds of take-off. More than the tragedy itself, it is the
handling of the investigation that is raising questions about India’s
commitment to global aviation safety norms.
4. India
in 2026: Why Criticism Must Be Anchored in Evidence, Not Despair: As India steps into 2026, public debate needs a dose of
New Year discipline. Scrutiny is essential in a democracy; sharp criticism is
healthy. But argument without responsibility corrodes trust. A republic of over
1.4 billion people cannot be reformed by cynicism alone. Jobs, productivity,
exports and inclusion are difficult objectives even in stable economies. In a
diverse, federal democracy, progress comes through the unglamorous grind of
design, implementation, correction and scale.A New Year is also a moment to
separate scepticism from pessimism — to ask not whether policies are perfect,
but whether they are moving outcomes in the right direction.Public policy, like philosophy, requires a temperament
that engages with reality rather than standing aloof from it. In “Beyond Good
and Evil”, Friedrich Nietzsche argued that the philosopher must create values
rather than merely criticise from the sidelines. Governing a complex democracy
demands the same ethic. Critique is welcome — indeed necessary — but it must be
tethered to evidence and an understanding of constraints.
5. Have
India’s Paris Climate Promises Been Delivered? A Decade After the Pledge: More than a decade after
India stood at the Paris climate summit and outlined a carefully calibrated set
of climate commitments, the question today is not whether targets were
announced, but whether they have meaningfully reshaped India’s environmental trajectory.
From the recent Supreme Court judgment on the Aravallis to the country’s
expanding renewable
energy footprint, India’s
climate record reveals a mix of headline achievements and structural contradictions. At the 2015 Paris summit under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change, India anchored its climate stance in
the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities”, arguing that its
development needs could not be judged by the same yardstick as historically
high emitters like the United States.
6. Prime
Minister Narendra Modi articulated four quantified commitments: reducing emissions intensity of GDP by 33–35% from 2005
levels by 2030; raising non-fossil power capacity to 40%; achieving 175 GW
of renewable energy; and creating an additional forest carbon sink of 2.5–3
billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent. These promises sought to balance climate
action with economic growth.
INTERNATIONAL UPDATES:
1. Andre
De Grasse Named International Event Ambassador for Tata Mumbai Marathon 2026: Olympic sprint champion Andre De Grasse has been named
International Event Ambassador for the 21st Tata Mumbai
Marathon, scheduled on January 18, 2026, in Mumbai.The Tata Mumbai
Marathon, a World Athletics Gold Label Race, is recognised as Asia’s largest
mass participation sporting event and one of the world’s premier road races.As
ambassador, De Grasse will promote the marathon globally, engage with runners
and stakeholders, and support outreach initiatives to enhance the event’s
international visibility and inclusivity.
2. Why
India’s Growth Has Held Firm Despite Trump’s Tariff Shock: When US President Donald
Trump announced sweeping tariff hikes on imports from even close partners
during his so-called “Liberation Day” in April, the global consensus was grim.
Retaliation was expected, markets tumbled, and economists warned of a
synchronised slowdown marked by inflation in the US and collapsing trade
elsewhere. Nine months later, the outcomes look far more complex. The US posted
headline growth of 4.3%, and India clocked a robust 8.2% growth in the second
quarter of the current financial year. The resilience of India’s economy, in
particular, offers lessons on how large, diversified economies absorb global
trade shocks. The initial escalation was dramatic. Washington imposed
tariffs of up to 150% on Chinese imports. Beijing responded in kind and went
further by banning exports of several medium and heavy rare-earth elements —
including dysprosium, neodymium and terbium —
critical for high-temperature magnets used in drones, electric vehicles,
missiles and advanced manufacturing.Although countries such as China, Vietnam,
Brazil, Russia and India hold large rare-earth reserves, China controls nearly
90% of global refining capacity. These elements are typically mined elsewhere
but shipped to China for separation and processing, giving Beijing
disproportionate leverage. The restriction quickly exposed vulnerabilities in
advanced manufacturing supply chains across the US and its allies.
3. Indian
Ambassador Explores Odisha’s Ancient Buddhist Heritage: India’s Ambassador to Bhutan undertook a cultural visit
to Odisha to explore the state’s rich and
ancient Buddhist heritage, highlighting the region’s historical links with the
spread of Buddhism in South and Southeast Asia. The visit underlined Odisha’s role as a major centre of Buddhist
learning and pilgrimage in ancient India. The ambassador visited prominent
Buddhist heritage locations across Odisha, including ancient stupas,
monasteries, and excavation sites. These sites reflect the flourishing of
Buddhism in the region from the Mauryan period to the post-Gupta era.
Archaeological remains indicate Odisha’s importance as a hub for monks, scholars,
and travellers. Odisha, historically known as Kalinga, occupies a crucial place
in Buddhist history. The aftermath of the Kalinga War is closely associated with the
transformation of Emperor Ashoka and the subsequent spread of Buddhism. Sites
such as Ratnagiri, Lalitgiri, and Udayagiri are considered among the earliest
organised Buddhist complexes in the country.
OTHER UPDATES:
DEFENCE
1. DRDO
Develops Portable Desalination System for Soldiers in Remote Areas: The Defence Research and Development Organisation has
developed a portable water desalination device to meet the drinking water needs
of soldiers deployed in challenging and water-scarce environments. The system
is designed to support small groups operating in remote, coastal, or
high-altitude regions where access to potable water is severely limited. The
device, named Sea Water Desalination System (SWaDeS), has been developed by the
Defence Laboratory, Jodhpur in response to operational requirements projected
by the tri-command services. It can be operated either manually or through an
engine-driven mode, offering flexibility across different deployment scenarios.
SPORTS
1. Sjoerd
Marijne Reappointed as Chief Coach of Indian Women’s Hockey Team: Dutch coach Sjoerd Marijne has been reappointed
as Chief Coach of the Indian women’s hockey team, marking his third
stint, after a gap of about 4.5 years.Marijne previously coached the team from
2017 to 2021, guiding India to a historic fourth-place finish at the Tokyo
Olympics 2021 and helping the team break into the top-10 world rankings for the
first time.His return comes after the resignation of former head coach Harendra
Singh in December 2025, amid poor performances, internal issues, and
allegations of favouritism, including India finishing last in the FIH Pro
League 2024–25.
SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
2. Can
China’s Hurricane 3000 Neutralise Drone Swarms Within 3 km?: China has disclosed new details about the Hurricane
3000, a truck-mounted high-power microwave weapon designed to counter the
growing threat of drone swarms on modern battlefields. Developed by defence
major Norinco, the system is being positioned as a key element of China’s
evolving counter-UAV and air-defence architecture, with a claimed effective
range exceeding 3 km. The rapid proliferation of low-cost and autonomous
unmanned aerial vehicles has altered contemporary warfare, challenging
traditional air-defence systems. Swarm attacks, in particular, can overwhelm
missile-based or gun-based defences. Against this backdrop, China has focused
on directed-energy weapons as a cost-effective and scalable solution, with the
Hurricane 3000 emerging as its most prominent high-power microwave platform.
3. NASA
Peers Inside a White Dwarf System for the First Time: NASA has achieved a quiet but significant breakthrough
in space science by observing the internal structure of a white dwarf system in
unprecedented detail. Using the Imaging X-ray Polarimetry Explorer (IXPE),
scientists have, for the first time, moved beyond brightness measurements to
study the geometry and physical processes inside such a system. The target was
EX Hydrae, a compact stellar remnant locked in a close binary orbit. EX Hydrae
lies about 200 light-years away in the constellation Hydra. It is a white
dwarf, the dense remnant left behind when a Sun-like star exhausts its nuclear
fuel. Roughly Earth-sized but nearly as massive as the Sun, white dwarfs
represent one of the final stages of stellar evolution.
4. ISRO
to Launch PSLV-C62 With EOS-N1 Satellite on January 12: The Indian Space Research Organisation will
begin its 2026 launch calendar with the PSLV-C62 mission scheduled for January
12 from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. The launch marks the space agency’s
first mission of the year and underlines its continued focus on strategic,
commercial, and international payload deployment. The primary payload onboard
PSLV-C62 is EOS-N1, an advanced Earth observation imaging satellite developed
by the Defence Research and Development Organisation. Designed for strategic
purposes, the satellite is expected to enhance India’s surveillance and
reconnaissance capabilities. Officials said EOS-N1 will be placed into its
intended orbit using the reliable Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle.
1. What
India’s Household Consumption Survey reveals about changing lives and
aspirations: India’s consumption story
is often reduced to growth rates and income numbers. But the Household
Consumption Expenditure Survey (HCES) tells a more grounded story — of what
Indian households actually spend on, how priorities shift as incomes rise, and
what this reveals about economic transition on the ground. The latest HCES
rounds for 2022-23 and 2023-24, released by the “Ministry
of Statistics and Programme Implementation”, offer the first comprehensive update to consumption
patterns in over a decade, making them critical for poverty estimation, social
policy, and understanding India’s expanding middle-income population. The HCES is conducted roughly every five years and
captures detailed spending patterns of Indian households across rural and urban
areas. Its core metric is Monthly Per Capita Expenditure (MPCE), which reflects
average consumption spending per person across a wide basket of goods and
services — from food and fuel to housing, health, education and transport.
The 2022-23 and 2023-24 rounds are especially significant because they bridge a long data gap since 2011-12. They provide granular, updated insights into how Indian households allocate every ₹100 of their consumption expenditure, offering a window into changing living standards and aspirations.
