Indian Navy receives first weaponised unmanned fast interceptor crafts from Sagar Defence Engineering.
[Sagar Defence Engineering]
Key Updates:
- Indian Navy will receive the first batch of two autonomous weaponised unmanned fast interceptor crafts (FICs) from Pune-based Sagar Defence Engineering.
- India will join the league of countries possessing weaponised swarm (vessel) capability after induction of these crafts.
- Sagar Defence dispatched the first two FICs to the Navy on Friday for deployment somewhere on the west coast.
- Indian Navy placed orders for 12 weaponised boat swarms after signing a deal with Sagar Defence on 5 January 2022.
- FICs are designed, developed and manufactured entirely in India under the iDEX–DIO framework.
- Each craft is fitted with a 12.7 mm gun and can deploy short-range missiles and loitering ammunition.
- Multiple crafts can be controlled from a single control station and operate in a GPS-denied environment.
- Craft endurance exceeds two days at sea and operational range is over 400 nautical miles (approximately 800 km).
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- INS Sagardhwani, India's oceanographic research vessel under the Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) of DRDO, was flagged off for the fifth edition of the Sagar Maitri (SM-5) initiative from Southern Naval Command, Kochi.
- Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative initiative of the Indian Navy and DRDO, aligned with the Government of India's vision of 'Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions (MAHASAGAR)'.
- The initiative seeks to build sustained scientific collaboration with eight Indian Ocean Rim countries: Oman, the Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar.
- Under the Sagar Maitri programme, INS Sagardhwani will retrace the historic routes of INS Kistna, which participated in the International Indian Ocean Expedition during 1962-65.
- The ongoing mission marks the launch of collaborative oceanographic studies with the Maldives, enabling joint research and professional exchanges among scientists from IOR nations.
- The Indian Navy will commission its second MH 60R helicopter squadron, INAS 335 (Ospreys), on December 17 at INS Hansa, Goa, in the presence of Adm Dinesh K Tripathi, the Chief of the Naval Staff.
- The Indian Navy is set to commission DSC A20, the first vessel of the indigenously designed and constructed Diving Support Craft (DSC), at Kochi on December 16 under the aegis of Southern Naval Command.
- DSC A20 is the lead ship in a series of five Diving Support Craft being built by M/s Titagarh Rail Systems Limited (TRSL), Kolkata.
- The Indian Navy has taken delivery of 'Anjadip', the third of eight Anti-Submarine Warfare Shallow Water Craft (ASW SWC).
- The warship has been indigenously designed and built by Garden Reach Shipbuilders and Engineers (GRSE), Kolkata.
- The ASW SWC project is executed under a Public–Private Partnership between GRSE and L&T Shipyard, Kattupalli.
- These vessels are equipped with state-of-the-art lightweight torpedoes, indigenously developed anti-submarine rockets, and advanced shallow water SONAR systems.
- Anjadip carries forward the legacy of the erstwhile INS Anjadip, a Petya-class corvette decommissioned in 2003.
- The ship derives its name from Anjadip Island, located off the coast of Karwar in Karnataka.
- Sagar Defence Engineering Pvt. Ltd has been allotted 29.58 acres of land at the Juvvaladinne Fishing Harbour in Bogolu Mandal, SPSR Nellore district, Andhra Pradesh, for setting up the world’s first autonomous maritime shipyard and systems centre.
- The facility is envisioned as a pioneering hub that will accelerate innovation, reshape industrial practices, and set new international benchmarks in autonomous maritime technology.
- The integrated R&D and testing ecosystem is poised to benefit sectors such as logistics, fisheries, disaster response, and port operations.
- A dedicated Maritime Test Centre within the project will support end-to-end autonomous system research, development, prototyping, and validation.
India to begin cross-border crypto data exchange under OECD CARF from April 2027
[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)]
Key Updates:
- India will start sharing and receiving cross-border cryptocurrency transaction data from April 1, 2027 under the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) led Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework (CARF).
- India is a signatory to the CARF which mandates automatic exchange of crypto transaction information between tax authorities.
- From April 1, 2026, non-submission of prescribed crypto transaction statements will attract a daily penalty of ₹200.
- Inaccurate reporting or failure to correct errors will draw a flat penalty of ₹50,000 per the budget documents.
- The government had introduced a 30% tax on gains and 1% tax deducted at source on crypto transactions in 2022.
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- The European Union (EU) has committed to expanded and commercially significant access across 144 sub-sectors including IT/ITeS, professional services, other business services and education services.
- National Association of Software and Service Companies (Nasscom) stated the FTA will ease cross-border delivery for India’s IT exporters and strengthen digital trade while ensuring safeguards for privacy, security and public policy.
- Nasscom expects the agreement to drive higher European investment into India’s IT ecosystem and enable joint ventures and R&D partnerships in artificial intelligence, semiconductors, clean technologies and startups.
- Rohit Jain, Managing Partner at Singhania & Co, said the FTA provides Intellectual Property (IP) certainty that encourages European MNCs to shift core technology development to their Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs).
- Alignment between India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act and the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) could reduce regulatory friction and enable seamless real-time integration between European headquarters and Indian GCCs.
- DGFT, in collaboration with MEA and FIEO, organised the National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls (NCSTC) 2026 in New Delhi.
- The Conference provided a platform for discussions on India’s Strategic Trade Control framework, including policies and procedures governing the export of dual-use and sensitive goods under the SCOMET framework.
- The third edition of the Handbook on India’s Strategic Trade Control System was released during the inaugural session.
- The Conference included seven thematic sessions covering licensing framework, enforcement mechanisms, compliance, supply chain security, AEO programme, ITT, and sector-specific controls.
- Discussions covered emerging technologies such as quantum-related items, advanced computing, semiconductors, additive manufacturing, aerospace technologies and cyber security in context of SCOMET List updates.
- Over 500 stakeholders participated, including Government officials, industry representatives, exporters, compliance professionals, academia, research institutions, and international participants.
- India’s move toward adopting the OECD Crypto-Asset Reporting Framework CARF, slated for implementation from April 1, 2027.
- India reasserted its position as the world’s largest market for crypto adoption.
- India joined global crypto elite, ranks among top 10 in transactional use.
- Union Home Minister (MHA) Amit Shah on Friday launched two pivotal databases: the Organised Crime Network Database and the Weapons Database.
- These databases are intended to bolster efforts of law enforcement agencies nationwide, forming the backbone of the country's zero-terror policy.
- Shah advocated for a seamless national-level technology framework, vested in unified databases, to enhance inter-agency efficacy in dismantling organized crime networks.
- The conference, attended by top law enforcement officials, highlighted a shift towards a collaborative data-sharing approach.
- The launch occurred on 26-12-2025 during the Anti-Terrorism Conference-2025.
Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) unveils modernised Consumer Price Index with food weight dropping to 36.8 percent.
[Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI)]
Key Updates:
- Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI) announced new CPI 2024 series to release on 12 February.
- Food and beverages weight declines from 45.9 percent in 2012 to 36.8 percent in 2024, a 9.1 percentage point reduction.
- Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category weight rises from 16.9 percent to 17.7 percent.
- House rent index compilation extended to rural areas for first time using Census 2011 dwelling type weights.
- Six rented dwellings selected per rural village versus 12 per urban market under revised Index.
- Transport category weight increases marginally to 8.8 percent.
- Health category weight rises to 6.1 percent.
- Education services weight declines to 3.3 percent from 4.5 percent.
Similar Coverage
- Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) announced the new Consumer Price Index (CPI) 2024 series to be released on 12 February 2026.
- Food and beverages weight in CPI basket lowered from 45.9% in 2012 to 36.8% in 2024, a reduction of 9.1 percentage points.
- Housing, water, electricity, gas and other fuels category weight rose from 16.9% to 17.7%, becoming the second-largest gainer.
- House rent index compilation extended to rural areas for the first time, selecting six rented dwellings per rural village versus 12 per urban market.
- Census 2011 data now used for dwelling type weights, replacing the earlier Housing Condition Survey.
- Transport weight increased marginally to 8.8% and health weight rose to 6.1%.
- Education services weight declined to 3.3% from 4.5%.
- India’s headline retail inflation based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose to 1.33 per cent in December 2025 from 0.71 per cent in November.
- Retail food prices fell 2.71 per cent year-on-year in December after falling by 3.91 per cent the previous month.
- The December 2025 retail inflation figure is the last under the existing CPI series; a new series with base year 2024 will be introduced next month.
- The October–December CPI inflation averaged ~0.8 per cent, about 20 basis points higher than the Monetary Policy Committee’s Q3FY26 forecast.
- Core inflation rose to 4.6 per cent in December from 4.4 per cent the previous month, driven by gold and silver price surges.
- Gold inflation hit a record high of 68.66 per cent and silver inflation reached 97.07 per cent in December.
- Excluding gold and silver, December CPI inflation would have been 0.26 per cent.
- The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) expects inflation to average around 4 per cent in the first half of 2026-27.
- Wholesale price inflation recorded at 0.83% in December 2025, returning to positive territory after negative readings of (-)0.32% in November and (-)1.21% in October.
- Retail inflation rose to 1.33% in December from 0.71% in November, driven by rising food prices.
- Deflation in vegetables narrowed to 3.50% in December from 20.23% in November.
- Inflation in manufactured products increased to 1.82% in December from 1.33% in November.
- Deflation in fuel and power sectors continued at 2.31% in December compared to 2.27% in November.
- Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has cut policy interest rates by 1.25 percentage points during the current fiscal year.
- RBI lowered inflation projection for the current fiscal to 2% from the earlier 2.6%.
- RBI reduced key policy interest rates by 25 basis points to 5.25% last month.
- RBI raised FY26 GDP growth projection to 7.3% from the previous 6.8%.
- India registered GDP growth of 8.2% in the September quarter and 7.8% in the June quarter.
- The Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI) will release a new series of Consumer Price Index (CPI) data with the base year 2024=100 on February 12, 2026.
- MoSPI will roll out revised National Accounts data using 2022-23 as the base year on February 27, 2026.
- The new Index of Industrial Production (IIP) series, featuring 2022-23 as the base year, is scheduled for release on May 28, 2026.
- MoSPI convened a pre-release consultative workshop to discuss proposed methodological and structural changes in the revised data series with stakeholders.
- The revision process involves key officials including NITI Aayog Vice Chairman Suman K Bery, Chief Economic Advisor V Anantha Nageswaran, and MoSPI Secretary Saurabh Garg.
NCDC rolls out Yuva Sahakar and Swayamshakti schemes with 2% interest subvention
[National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC)]
Key Updates:
- National Cooperative Development Corporation (NCDC) implements fully-funded Yuva Sahakar and Swayamshakti Sahakar schemes under Ministry of Cooperation.
- Yuva Sahakar offers start-up cooperatives of young entrepreneurs term credit up to five years with 2% interest subvention.
- NCDC has approved Rs 4,734.97 lakh under Yuva Sahakar benefitting 18,915 members by end-2024.
- Swayamshakti Sahakar Yojana provides low-cost bank credit to women-only Self-Help Groups for collective enterprises.
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- The National Cooperation Policy 2025 has strengthened rural livelihoods, expanded cooperative networks, and enabled entrepreneurship.
- White Revolution 2.0 and the decentralised grain storage plan are strengthening livelihoods and food security.
- The 97th Constitutional Amendment Act has provided cooperatives constitutional recognition, ensuring democratic governance, transparency, and autonomy.
- National Cooperative Exports Limited (NCEL) and National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) have enabled cooperatives to participate in global markets and promote organic produce.
- Bharatiya Beej Sahakari Samiti Limited (BBSSL) supports high-quality seeds.
- India has expanded and modernised its cooperative ecosystem to benefit millions of farmers, artisans, women, and youth.
- Cooperative-led mobility platforms such as Sahakar Taxi are redefining cooperatives as modern institutions that generate income, employment, and self-reliance.
- Sahakar Taxi Cooperative Limited operates Bharat Taxi, India’s first cooperative taxi network fully owned and run by drivers.
- Bharat Taxi pilots began in Delhi and Gujarat with zero-commission model transferring entire fare to drivers.
- Platform connects with government systems including DigiLocker and UMANG for deep digital integration.
- Service follows transparent no-surge pricing and allows drivers to purchase shares for decision-making power.
- The Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers Welfare (MoA&FW) has constituted a high-level committee to review Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) and recommend strategies for enhancing their scale and reach in Tamil Nadu.
- The panel is mandated to submit its comprehensive report within two months.
- The committee includes representatives from the National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), and Small Farmers' Agri-Business Consortium-Tamil Nadu (SFAC-Tamil Nadu).
- Other members of the panel include officials from the ICAR–National Research Centre for Banana (NRCB), FPOs, Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), and the Department of Agriculture & Farmers Welfare.
- The committee will investigate institutional governance, management practices, business operations, sustainability, technical support, and value addition.
- Union Agriculture and Farmers Welfare Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan initiated the formation of the panel following a visit to Erode.
- Target beneficiaries: Farmer Producer Organisations (FPOs) in Tamil Nadu.
- Rani Channamma Mahila Sahakari Bank (RCMS Bank) was honoured as the Best Profit-Making Bank in Belagavi District for 2025.
- The award was presented during the 72nd All India Cooperative Week celebrations held in Haveri.
- The Karnataka State Urban Cooperative Banks Federation, Bengaluru, presented the award.
- RCMS Bank is headquartered in Belgaum.
- The felicitation was received by the bank’s Chairperson, Preeti Kore Daddwad.
- Coop Kumbh 2025 was held in New Delhi.
- Coop Kumbh 2025 was inaugurated by Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah.
- RCMS Bank’s Professional Director, Ms. Beena Achar, highlighted the bank’s journey during Coop Kumbh 2025.
- NAFCUB Chairman Emeritus H. K. Patel was present at the award event.
National Conference of State Election Commissioners (SECs) to build synergy in electoral processes
[National Conference of State Election Commissioners (SECs)]
Key Updates:
- The Election Commission of India (ECI) will host a National Conference of the State Election Commissioners (SECs) on February 24, 2026.
- The conference is being organised after a gap of over 25 years, with the previous meeting held in 1999.
- Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar will chair the event, joined by Election Commissioners (ECs) Dr. Sukhbir Singh Sandhu and Dr. Vivek Joshi.
- The conference will be attended by all SECs and the Chief Electoral Officers (CEOs) of all States and Union Territories (UTs).
- The primary objective is to build synergy between the ECI and SECs regarding electoral processes and logistics within their respective legal frameworks.
- State Election Commissions (SECs) are created under the 73rd and 74th Constitutional Amendments for elections to Panchayats and Municipal Bodies.
- Discussion topics include the recently launched ECINET digital platform, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), and electoral laws on elector eligibility.
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- The 86th All India Presiding Officers’ Conference (AIPOC) began in Lucknow.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla flagged the declining duration of State Assembly sessions as a matter of concern.
- Presiding Officers from Legislative Assemblies of 28 states, 3 Union Territories, and 6 Legislative Councils are participating.
- Uttar Pradesh Governor Anandiben Patel inaugurated the three-day conference.
- Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent greetings highlighting the importance of debates and discussions in democracy.
- India is set to host its first-ever Silver-Level Continental Tour event next year in Bhubaneswar, the Athletics Federation of India announced on Tuesday.
- The Silver-Level event will be held on August 22 at the Kalinga Stadium.
- The Athletics Federation of India will replace the Indian Grand Prix series with the Indian Athletics Series, to be held across 16 cities with the final in New Delhi.
- The National Indoor Athletics Championships will be introduced for the first time in India at the Kalinga indoor stadium in Bhubaneshwar.
- PM Modi inaugurated the 72nd National Volleyball Championship in Uttar Pradesh via video conferencing.
- The tournament is being held in Varanasi with 58 teams participating.
- The championship will conclude on January 11.
- The 72nd Senior National Volleyball Championship (Men and Women) will be held at Dr Sampurnanand Sports Stadium in Sigra from January 4 to 11.
- The official mascots for the national competition are 'Nandu', inspired by Nandi, and 'Neera', a Ganga Dolphin.
- A total of 73 teams and more than 1,000 players from across the country will participate in the event.
- Uttar Pradesh (UP) Volleyball Association president Brijesh Pathak and Mayor Ashok Kumar Tiwari presented the formal invitation for the championship to the Prime Minister.
- Random anti-doping tests of players will be conducted to ensure the transparency of the event.
National School of Drama (NSD) to organise 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) 2026 across 40 locations
[National School of Drama (NSD)]
Key Updates:
- The National School of Drama (NSD) will organise the 25th edition of Bharat Rang Mahotsav (BRM) 2026 from 27 January to 20 February.
- The festival will be held across 40 locations in India and will feature at least one production from a country in each of the seven continents.
- BRM 2026 will showcase 277 Indian productions and 12 international productions across 228 Indian and foreign languages and dialects.
- New festival centres include Ladakh, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman and Diu, Aizawl in Mizoram, Tura in Meghalaya, Nagaon in Assam, Mandi in Himachal Pradesh, and Rohtak in Haryana.
- The event will feature curated segments including Adirang Mahotsav for tribal theatre, Jashne Bachpan for children’s theatre, and Poorvottar Natya Samaroh for North-Eastern theatre.
- For the first time, the festival will include productions by transgender communities, sex workers, and senior citizens.
- Under the Shruti initiative, 17 books will be launched during the festival, which will also showcase 33 productions directed by women.
- International collaborators for the event include the National Polish Theatre Academy, the National Academy of Theatre and Film Arts in Madrid, and the Russian Institute of Theatre Arts – GITIS (Moscow).
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- 25th Bharat Rang Mahotsav begins on January 27 and ends on February 20.
- Festival features 277 Indian and 12 international productions from 15 countries.
- First time inclusion of productions by 33 women directors.
- New venues added: Ladakh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands, Lakshadweep, Daman & Diu, Aizawl, Tura, Nagaon, Mandi, Rohtak.
- Languages showcased include Maithili, Bhojpuri, Tulu, Urdu, Sanskrit, Tai Khamti, Nyishi.
- First-time participation of transgender communities, sex workers, senior citizens.
- NSD to launch NSD radio station, OTT channel, and podcast series during the festival.
- Tributes paid to Ebrahim Alkazi, Ratan Thiyam, Daya Prakash Sinha, Bansi Kaul, Alok Chatterjee.
- 17 new books on theatre to be launched under NSD's Shruti initiatives.
- Bharat Parv 2026 is organised by the Ministry of Tourism (MoT) and runs from 26 to 31 January at the Lawns and Gyan Path in front of the Red Fort.
- The closing ceremony on 31 January at 5:30 p.m. will have Vice-President C.P. Radhakrishnan as the chief guest.
- Punjabi Folk Orchestra and Qalandri Dhamal will perform on 31 January, showcasing traditional instruments like Dhol, Dholki, Taal-Koze, Tansari, Flute, Nagara, Chimta, Sap, Kara, and Vanjli.
- Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla inaugurated Bharat Parv 2026 and described it as a vibrant expression of India’s soul and a reminder of constitutional values.
- Krishnaveni Sangeetha Neerajanam 2025 is organised by the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sangeet Natak Academy and supported by Andhra Pradesh Tourism and the Department of Culture, Government of Andhra Pradesh.
- The festival is held at Tummalapallivari Kshetrayya Kalakshetram in Vijayawada.
- The theme for this edition is 'Celebrating the Richness of Telugu Music Traditions'.
- A special dawn rendition of the Pancharatna Kritis will be presented at Durga Ghat on 7th December at 7 am.
- Federal Bank has introduced its new cultural initiative, Bharat Surotsav, aimed at celebrating India's rich artistic heritage through an immersive dance and music festival.
- The launch was graced by several dignitaries from the bank's regional headquarters.
- The inaugural event is set for November 22 at the Madras Music Academy, featuring acclaimed artists like Padma Shri Shobana and the Carnatic-rock group Agam Band.
- Federal Bank is offering a special 15% discount on tickets for its debit and credit cardholders.
- MVS Murthy, Chief Marketing Officer at Federal Bank, emphasized the festival's role in blending finance with culture, fostering unity and pride among diverse audiences.
- Each city in the Bharat Surotsav series will spotlight local cultural talents, enriching the community's connections with their unique heritage.
National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) launches online portal for digital issuance of origin certificates for cultivated medicinal plants.
[National Biodiversity Authority (NBA)]
Key Updates:
- The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) has operationalised a web-based portal enabling fully digital submission, review, and issuance of certificates of origin for cultivated medicinal plants.
- The portal replaces paper-based workflows with automated online verification and real-time data validation, cutting administrative effort for AYUSH practitioners, seed producers, and research institutions.
- Built under the Biological Diversity Act amendments approved by Parliament in 2023 and the Biological Diversity Rules notified in 2024 and amended in 2025, the system supports Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) compliance without physical document handling.
- Applications are processed through secure agency-managed logins, with instant cross-department updates and digital storage to strengthen traceability and regulatory oversight.
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- Sun Pharmaceuticals has inked a second brand partnership with AstraZeneca India arm to sell Sodium Zirconium Cyclosilicate (SZC) brand in the country.
- AstraZeneca will market the therapy under the global brand name Lokelma, while Sun Pharma will promote and distribute it as Gimliand.
- AstraZeneca will retain the intellectual property rights to SZC and hold the Marketing Authorization along with the import license of the molecule.
- The financial terms of the agreement and the therapy's market price have not been disclosed.
- SZC is a non-absorbed, inorganic, potassium-binding crystalline compound used to treat hyperkalemia in adults.
- In 2024, AstraZeneca’s Lokelma clocked net sales of $542 million (over ~Rs 4,600 crore).
- MoET unveils TM Market Place, the Middle East’s first dedicated digital platform for listing, buying and trading registered trademarks.
- Only national and international trademarks officially registered in the UAE can be listed on the platform.
- There is no subscription fee required to browse, list, or access the marketplace; users pay only the agreed purchase price and the government fee for re-registering ownership.
- The All India Institute of Ayurveda (AIIA), an apex institution under the Ministry of AYUSH, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Centre for Ayurveda Education, Innovation & Technology (CAYEIT) in New Delhi.
- The partnership aims to modernise Ayurveda through Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) enabled data analysis, and digital-first education models.
- The collaboration focuses on developing personalised, Prakriti-based treatment models and utilising network pharmacology to provide scientific evidence for Ayurvedic formulations.
- The MoU was signed by Prof. (Vd.) P. K. Prajapati, Director of AIIA, and Prof. Dr. Abhimanyu Kumar, Chairman and CEO of CAYEIT.
- Following this agreement, AIIA now maintains a total of 74 national and 20 international collaborations.
- MoU signed between Indian Pharmacopoeia Commission (IPC), Ghaziabad and Jharkhand State Pharmacy Council (JSPC) to promote safe and rational medicine use in Jharkhand.
- Objective: build capacity of registered pharmacists in adverse drug reaction (ADR) reporting, pharmacovigilance, materiovigilance and safe medicine use.
- Key feature: strengthen utilisation of the National Formulary of India (NFI) as standard reference across Jharkhand healthcare facilities for rational dispensing.
- Initiatives include awareness programmes for hospital and community pharmacists, mandatory NFI use in institutional pharmacy settings, and joint observance of National Pharmacovigilance Week.
India and Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to ink terms of reference on 5 February for starting FTA talks
[Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)]
Key Updates:
- India and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) will sign terms of reference on 5 February to launch negotiations for a free trade agreement.
- Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal will preside over the signing ceremony.
- GCC comprises Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain.
- India already implemented a free trade pact with the UAE in May 2022.
- India and Oman signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) on 18 December 2025.
- Earlier negotiations between India and GCC were held in 2006 and 2008; third round deferred.
- India's exports to GCC rose 1% to USD 57 billion in 2024-25.
- India's imports from GCC rose 15.33% to USD 121.7 billion in 2024-25.
- Bilateral trade reached USD 178.7 billion in 2024-25.
- UAE was India's third-largest trading partner in 2024-25 with a trade deficit of USD 26.76 billion.
- Saudi Arabia was India's fifth-largest trading partner with a trade deficit of USD 18.36 billion.
- Qatar was India's 22nd-largest trading partner with a trade deficit of USD 10.78 billion.
- Oman was India's 28th-largest trading partner with a trade deficit of USD 2.48 billion.
- Kuwait was India's 29th-largest trading partner with a trade deficit of USD 6.35 billion.
- Bahrain was India's 65th-largest trading partner with a trade deficit of USD 45.97 million.
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- India and Japan signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Joint Crediting Mechanism (JCM) under Article 6.2 of the Paris Agreement in August this year
- Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav stated that the JCM aligns with India’s Nationally Determined Contributions and long-term low-emission development strategy
- Japan’s Environment Minister Hirotaka Ishihara announced that JCM now covers 31 partner countries with over 280 projects under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement
- India expressed 'strong support' to Brazil for the inclusive leadership at CoP30.
- India welcomed progress under the Global Goal on Adaptation, noting it reflects recognition of the overwhelming need for adaptation in developing countries.
- India emphasized the long-standing obligations of developed countries to provide climate finance and appreciated the Presidency's efforts in supporting India in beginning the journey towards a long-overdue focus on Article 9.1.
- India expressed satisfaction with the establishment of the Just Transition Mechanism, calling it a significant milestone.
- India thanked the Presidency for providing space to discuss unilateral trade-restrictive climate measures, which it said are increasingly affecting developing countries and violate the principles of equity and CBDR-RC.
- India stressed that the burden of climate change mitigation must not be shifted onto those least responsible for causing the problem.
- India reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to science-based and equitable climate action and to a rules-based global order that is equitable and respectful of national sovereignty.
- India called on all Parties to ensure that the road from Belem leads to a future defined by fairness, solidarity, and shared prosperity for all.
- India and Israel signed Terms of Reference to begin Free Trade Agreement negotiations
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and Israel’s Minister of Economy Nir Barkat co-chaired the India-Israel Business Summit themed 'Gateway to Growth' in Tel Aviv-Yafo
- Proposed FTA plus the existing bilateral investment treaty aim to expand market access, capital flows, trade in goods and services, and remove business obstacles
- India and the European Union (EU) endorsed the Joint Comprehensive Strategic Agenda during the 16th India-EU summit held in New Delhi.
- The agenda covers five pillars: prosperity and sustainability, technology and innovation, security and defence, connectivity and global challenges, and enabling factors such as skills, mobility, business and people-to-people ties.
- Both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Comprehensive Framework on Co-operation on Mobility to boost mobility of Indians to Europe.
- They agreed to conclude an Investment Protection Agreement to provide high, predictable standards of protection for investors and promote investment in high-growth sectors.
- An Agreement on Geographical Indications will be concluded to ensure effective protection of iconic products and boost trade opportunities.
- The Trade and Technology Council (TTC) will expand discussions on economic security to include research security and protection of sensitive technologies.
- The EU-India Semiconductor Memorandum of Understanding will be implemented to strengthen supply chains and promote collaboration in chip design, heterogeneous integration, sustainable semiconductor technologies and manufacturing technology development.
- An EU-India Business Forum will be established to meet regularly and provide business perspectives to inform policymaking across TTC work strands.
- India-EU Clean Energy and Climate Partnership cooperation will cover energy technologies, smart grids, storage, electricity sector regulation and energy and climate diplomacy.
- Collaborative research will focus on artificial intelligence (AI), quantum technologies, advanced semiconductors, clean tech and biotech under the technology and innovation pillar.
- India-EU Innovation Hubs will be set up to support dialogue, knowledge exchange and joint projects in critical emerging technologies.
- An India-EU Startup Partnership will be established to deepen cooperation in innovation.
- Cooperation on peaceful uses of nuclear energy will be promoted under the India-Euratom agreement.
- Under the security and defence pillar, both sides will consult on respective initiatives, exchange on defence industry-related matters and explore cooperation aligned with mutual security priorities.
ISRO to Launch GISAT-1A Earth Observation Satellite via GSLV Mk II
[Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)]
Key Updates:
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is scheduled to launch the GISAT-1A (EOS-05) earth observing satellite on 20 February 2026.
- The mission will be launched using the Geosynchronous Satellite Launch Vehicle Mark II (GSLV Mk II), which is a fourth-generation three-stage vehicle.
- The GSLV Mk II rocket features four liquid strap-ons and an indigenously developed Cryogenic Upper Stage (CUS) as its third stage.
- The satellite is designed to operate from a Geostationary Transfer Orbit (GTO) to facilitate continuous observation of the Indian sub-continent.
- The GISAT-1A mission aims to provide quick monitoring of natural hazards and disaster management.
- The launch will be conducted from the Second Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre (SDSC), formerly known as the Sriharikota Range (SHAR), in Andhra Pradesh.
- Since January 2014, the GSLV Mk II vehicle has achieved four consecutive successful launches.
- ISRO is headquartered in Bangalore and functions as the space agency of the Government of India.
Similar Coverage
- NISAR is a joint Earth-observation mission of Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
- The 12-meter diameter antenna reflector, developed by NASA, has been successfully deployed and calibrated.
- ISRO released the first S-band radar images, marking the commencement of the satellite’s science phase.
- Initial S-band images captured the Godavari River Delta, demonstrating the satellite’s capability to map vegetation, agriculture, and aquaculture with precision.
- The satellite was launched onboard GSLV-F16 and completed 100 days in orbit on the day of image release.
- The PSLV-C62 mission lifted off at 10:18:30 IST from the First Launch Pad at the Satish Dhawan Space Centre, Sriharikota.
- ISRO acknowledged 'a deviation of sort in the flight path' after the end of the third stage and is analysing the data.
- The 44.4-metre-tall four-stage PSLV-C62 carried the EOS-N1 Earth observation satellite and 15 co-passenger satellites.
- The rocket was to inject payloads into a Sun Synchronous Orbit at an altitude of around 511 km.
- The fourth stage (PS4) was planned to restart for a controlled de-boost manoeuvre to re-enter and splash down the Kestrel Initial Technology Demonstrator (KID) capsule in the South Pacific Ocean.
- EOS-N1 is an Earth observation satellite for environmental monitoring, resource mapping, and disaster management support.
- KID, developed by a Spanish startup, is a small-scale re-entry vehicle prototype for technology demonstration.
- The mission is the 64th flight of the Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle and the ninth dedicated commercial mission executed by NewSpace India Limited (NSIL).
- Russia lifted a Soyuz-2.1b from Vostochny with 52 satellites and separately placed three Iranian communications payloads in orbit.
- Roscosmos said the payload includes two Aist-2T satellites and 50 smaller spacecraft.
- The Aist-2T satellites are designed to photograph the Earth’s surface and produce stereoscopic images to build digital terrain models.
- Some smaller satellites are CubeSats under the Universat program and will study climate change and “space weather” in low Earth orbit for the Russian Hydrometeorological Service.
- A Russian rocket placed the Iranian satellites — Paya, Kowsar, and Zafar-2 — into a 500-kilometre orbit from Vostochny.
- The satellites can capture images with up to three-meter resolution for management of water resources, agriculture, and environmental monitoring.
- The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) plans seven launch missions by March next year.
- The human-rated LVM3 will carry the first uncrewed Gaganyaan mission, with Vyommitra humanoid robot aboard.
- PSLV63 will launch TDS-01 satellite to demonstrate high thrust electric propulsion, quantum key distribution, and indigenous travelling wave tube amplifier.
- India’s first industry-built Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle will place Oceansat satellite into orbit along with Indo-Mauritius Joint Satellite and LEAP-2.
- LVM3 will launch Bluebird-6 communication satellite for US-based AST Spacemobile under a commercial agreement through New Space India Limited (NSIL).
- PSLV will launch EOS-N1 earth observation satellite for a strategic user and 18 smaller Indian and international satellites.
- GSLV-Mk II is expected to launch EOS-5 (GISAT-1A) to replace GISAT-1 which failed to reach intended orbit in 2021.
- NSIL has awarded a contract to a HAL-L&T consortium to manufacture five PSLV rockets under a technology transfer arrangement.
- Small Satellite Launch Vehicle is expected to launch a dedicated satellite before March 2026.
Botanical Survey of India (BSI) discovers new flowering plant species Dicliptera pakhalica in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, Telangana
[Botanical Survey of India (BSI), Telangana]
Key Updates:
- Botanical Survey of India (BSI) scientists identified the new species Dicliptera pakhalica in Pakhal Wildlife Sanctuary, Mahbubabad district, Telangana.
- The species belongs to the Acanthaceae family and was formally described in the journal Brittonia on 29 January.
- The plant was found along stream banks and rocky areas near waterfalls within the sanctuary.
- Dicliptera pakhalica differs from related Eastern Ghats species by adpressed deflexed stem hairiness, unkeeled bracts, absence of glandular hairs on floral parts and fruit, obovoid capsule, and echinate seeds.
- The genus Dicliptera contains over 220 species worldwide; 29 taxa are recorded in India.
- Flowering occurs from November to January and fruiting from December to March.
- The species is currently known only from its type locality and is classified as Data Deficient under IUCN guidelines.
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- The state government has officially renamed the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as the Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary.
- The notification of the renaming was published on December 26, 2025.
- The sanctuary is Kerala’s first ‘Butterfly Sanctuary’.
- The orchid was found in Kanthalloor, Marayoor, in Idukki district, located in the southern ranges of the Western Ghats.
- The species belongs to the Diplozentrum genus, which is endemic to the southern Western Ghats, and has been scientifically named Diplozentrum papillosum.
- The orchid grows on rocks and tree branches, using strong roots to anchor itself and withstand high wind conditions in its natural habitat.
- It is characterised by unbranched flower clusters, pink and white fragrant blooms, and uniquely shaped petals that distinguish it from other Diplozentrum species.
- The discovery highlights the ecological richness and endemic plant diversity of the Western Ghats, a global biodiversity hotspot.
- Researchers from Nagaland University (NU) have discovered a new plant species named Hoya nagaensis in the Phek district of Nagaland.
- The species was identified in the Kavünhou Community Reserved Forest, a high-altitude community-protected area in the Eastern Himalaya.
- The research team was led by Principal Investigator Gyati Yam from the Department of Forestry at NU, alongside researchers Vieneite-o Koza and Joynath Pegu.
- The findings regarding the new species were published in the Kew Bulletin, a peer-reviewed international journal for plant and fungal taxonomy.
- Hoya nagaensis has been provisionally assessed as critically endangered due to its restricted distribution and threats from shifting cultivation and forest disturbance.
- The discovery highlights the effectiveness of traditional forest stewardship practiced by local Naga communities in conserving biodiversity.
- Scientists from the Botanical Survey of India (BSI) and Agharkar Research Institute (ARI) discovered a new flowering plant species named Strobilanthes riteshii in Arunachal Pradesh.
- The species was identified near Chayangtajo village in the East Kameng district at an elevation of approximately 1,600 metres.
- The plant is named in honour of Dr Ritesh Kumar Choudhary, a taxonomist from the ARI, for his contributions to plant taxonomy and molecular systematics.
- Researchers recorded fewer than 25 mature individuals of the species, leading to its provisional assessment as Data Deficient under the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Red List criteria.
- The discovery was published in the Indian Journal of Forestry by a team including researchers from the BSI and ARI Pune.
- India hosts approximately 168 species of the genus Strobilanthes, with Arunachal Pradesh alone home to at least 44 species.
- The species is genetically distinct but closely related to plants found in India, China, and Tibet, highlighting the eastern Himalaya as a key biogeographical corridor.
- Conservation efforts have commenced with individuals of the species being maintained at the BSI Arunachal Pradesh Regional Centre.
BITS Pilani–Hyderabad and RMIT University develop low-cost biosensor for heart attack detection
[Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT University)]
Key Updates:
- A joint doctoral researcher from the Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS) Pilani–Hyderabad and RMIT University has developed a flexible, low-cost biosensor for early heart attack detection.
- The graphene-based sensor enables rapid detection of myoglobin, a protein released into the bloodstream shortly after cardiac muscle injury.
- The device is designed to be lightweight and economical, making it suitable for portable and point-of-care testing in rural hospitals and low-resource healthcare facilities.
- The research is a collaboration between the MMNE Laboratory at BITS Pilani–Hyderabad and the Centre for Opto-Electronic Materials and Sensors (COMAS) at RMIT University.
- An Indian patent has been filed for the technology, and the findings were published in the journal IEEE Sensors Letters.
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- The National Health Authority (NHA), in collaboration with the ICMR–National Institute for Research in Digital Health and Data Science (ICMR-NIRDHDS) and Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kanpur, organised the Federated Intelligence Hackathon for Healthcare.
- The national-level initiative was held at the IIT Kanpur campus to advance secure and scalable Artificial Intelligence (AI) solutions for India's healthcare ecosystem.
- The event featured a Hackathon Week from 19 to 23 January 2026, followed by a two-day on-site programme beginning on 23 January 2026.
- The hackathon received a total of 191 registrations, comprising 76 individual participants and 115 teams from health-tech start-ups, clinicians, and researchers.
- The competition carries a total prize pool of ₹12 lakh, with winners announced during the valedictory sessions on 24 January 2026.
- The programme integrated NHA’s digital health governance through the Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) with the clinical research expertise of ICMR-NIRDHDS.
- Technical sessions covered Health Technology Assessment (HTA), traditional machine learning, and AI use cases in ophthalmology, bone age detection, and computational pathology.
- Participating organisations and experts included representatives from NITI Aayog, Samsung India, Google Health AI, CoRover.ai, ArtPark@IISc, and the Wadhwani Foundation.
- MadhuNetrAI, a web-based AI tool developed by Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, enables screening, accurate grading and triaging of retinal images captured through handheld fundus cameras.
- The initiative will generate real-time data on prevalence, case numbers, and geographic distribution of Diabetic Retinopathy to guide manpower planning and resource allocation.
- Seven pilot sites—Pune, Mumbai, Bangalore, Dharamshala, Gaya, Jorhat, and Kochi—represent urban, rural, hilly and coastal geographies for inclusive AI-driven eye health delivery.
- Trained Medical Officers and Nursing staff will conduct large-scale community screening in resource-limited settings using handheld fundus cameras integrated with MadhuNetrAI.
- Patients detected with vision-threatening Diabetic Retinopathy will be referred to vitreoretina specialists at designated District Hospitals, coordinated by District Health Administration.
- All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi has achieved a milestone in stroke care by conducting the country's first dedicated clinical trial of a cutting-edge and advanced brain stent made for treating severe strokes.
- The GRASSROOT trial, which evaluated the Supernova stent (Gravity Medical Technology), has found excellent safety and efficacy outcomes in the treatment of severe strokes, say officials.
- The results were published in the ‘Journal of Neurointerventional Surgery’ (JNIS), part of the prestigious British Medical Journal group.
- AIIMS Delhi was the national coordinating centre and the lead enrolling site for the GRASSROOT trial – India's first clinical trial of a new and advanced stroke treatment device, the Supernova stent.
- Earlier this year, data from the GRASSROOT trial were accepted by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) and the Supernova stent-retriever was approved for routine use in India.
- This is the nation's first stroke device cleared based on a domestic clinical trial.
- Conducted across eight centres, the trial marks a milestone for the Make-in-India initiative and positions India as a global player in advanced stroke care.
- Developed by Gravity Medical Technology, Supernova is designed for India’s diverse patient population, where strokes often strike patients at a younger age than in the West.
- The device has already treated more than 300 patients in Southeast Asia.
- It will now be manufactured and made available in India at affordable prices, offering new hope to the 1.7 million Indians who suffer strokes each year.
- India's pharmaceutical industry is the world's third-largest by volume, meeting approximately 20 per cent of global generics demand.
- In FY25 the sector's annual turnover reached Rs 4.72 lakh crore, with exports growing at a CAGR of 7 per cent over the last decade (FY15 to FY25).
- India exports pharmaceuticals to 191 countries in FY25, with over 50 per cent of exports directed to highly regulated markets such as the US and Europe.
- India ranks 11th globally in pharmaceutical exports by value, with a 3 per cent share.
- Medical devices exports have grown from USD 2.5 billion in FY21 to USD 4.1 billion in FY25.
- India provides a majority of the world's diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (DPT), Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) and measles vaccines.
- India's medical devices sector exports to 187 countries in FY25 and now manufactures high-end equipment including MRI and CT scanners, linear accelerators, cardiac stents, and ventilators.
Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) and The Boring Company to build Dubai Loop
[Dubai Roads and Transport Authority (RTA)]
Key Updates:
- Dubai’s Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) signed an agreement with The Boring Company during the World Governments Summit 2026 to develop the Dubai Loop underground transport system.
- The Dubai Loop is an express underground network using electric vehicles in dedicated tunnels to provide high-speed, point-to-point travel without intermediate stops.
- The pilot phase of the project covers a 6.4 km route with four stations, linking the Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC) area with the Dubai Mall and the Burj Khalifa zone.
- The full network is planned to expand to 22.5 km with 19 stations, stretching toward the Dubai World Trade Centre and Business Bay.
- The tunnels will have a diameter of 3.6 metres and are constructed using high-speed boring methods to minimise surface disruption and costs compared to traditional metro systems.
- The pilot route is estimated to cost 154 million US Dollars and handle 13,000 passengers daily, while the full system is priced at 545 million US Dollars with a capacity of 30,000 passengers daily.
- Dubai will become the second location globally, after California, to adopt this specific tunnel transport model.
- Safety features include 24-hour communication with an operations control centre, emergency exits, fire detection, ventilation systems, and camera coverage.
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- Abu Dhabi has once again been named the world’s safest city in the latest Numbeo Global Safety Index, marking the tenth consecutive year the United Arab Emirates (UAE) capital has topped the global rankings.
- The city’s unbroken reign as the world's safest city began in 2017, when it first captured the world’s No. 1 safety ranking.
- The 2026 safety report evaluated 400 cities across more than 150 countries and placed Abu Dhabi at number one for overall safety.
- Major General Ahmed Saif bin Zaitoon Al Muhairi serves as the Commander-in-Chief of Abu Dhabi Police.
- According to the broader Numbeo Safety Index, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) recently secured the title of the safest country globally, ahead of other high-ranking nations.
- Other cities in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) that ranked among the world’s safest include Ras Al Khaimah, Ajman, Sharjah, and Dubai.
- The Riyadh Metro has been recognized as the world’s longest fully driverless train network, breaking a Guinness World Record.
- Its network comprises six lines, 85 stations and a total of 176 kilometers (109 miles) and is expected to reduce the city’s traffic.
- It operates fully driverless on all lines managed through advanced central control rooms equipped to monitor operations.
- Dubai is set to launch the world's first comprehensive urban aerial taxi network in 2026.
- The Roads and Transport Authority (RTA) has named four priority vertiport locations: Dubai International Airport (DXB), Downtown Dubai, Dubai Marina, and Palm Jumeirah.
- The RTA, in partnership with US-based Joby Aviation, successfully completed the UAE's first crewed electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) flight.
- This breakthrough flight saw the air taxi lift off from the Dubai Jetman Helipad in Margham and land 17 minutes later at Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC).
- The primary vertiport hub at Dubai International Airport (DXB) is being constructed by Skyports Infrastructure, is 60% complete, and will be seamlessly connected to the Emirates Metro Station.
- The vehicle at the heart of the service is the fully electric Joby S4 air taxi, designed to carry a pilot and four passengers.
- The Joby S4 air taxi boasts a maximum speed of 320 km/h and has a flight range of 160 km on a single charge.
- The trip from Dubai International Airport (DXB) to Palm Jumeirah is expected to take only 10 to 12 minutes by air, a journey that currently takes approximately 45 minutes by car.
- Bharat Future City is India’s first Net-Zero Greenfield Smart City.
- Spread over 30,000 acres, the city is envisioned as a multi-sectoral, sustainable urban-industrial hub with dedicated spaces for Artificial Intelligence (AI), education, health, industries, residential and entertainment zones.
- The United Arab Emirates (UAE) government and Telangana agree to collaborate for development of Bharat Future City as a top global city.
- A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed with Reliance Group's Vantara to establish a new zoo in Future City.
NASA's Juno spacecraft finds Jupiter smaller and flatter than earlier estimates
[National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)]
Key Updates:
- NASA's Juno spacecraft revealed Jupiter is about 8 kilometres narrower at the equator and 24 kilometres flatter at the poles than previously believed.
- The measurements were derived from 13 close flybys of Jupiter using the radio occultation technique.
- Earlier size estimates relied on six radio occultation experiments by NASA's Pioneer and Voyager missions during the 1970s.
- The findings were published on February 2, 2026, in the journal Nature Astronomy.
- Jupiter's updated dimensions will improve models used to study giant exoplanets beyond our solar system.
- The Juno mission is managed by NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California.
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- The ozone hole reached its greatest one-day extent for 2025 in early September, measuring 8.83 million square miles.
- This extent is about 30% smaller than the largest hole on record in 2006.
- Efforts to limit ozone-depleting chemical compounds had a significant impact, according to NOAA and NASA scientists.
- The regulations are established by the Montreal Protocol, which went into effect in 1992.
- This year’s hole would have been more than one million square miles larger if there was still as much chlorine in the stratosphere as there was 25 years ago, said Paul Newman, a senior scientist at the University of Maryland system and longtime leader of NASA’s ozone research team.
- China's Fengyun-3D satellite has found that A23a, once the world's largest iceberg, has entered the final stage of its disintegration.
- True-color images with 250-meter resolution captured on January 14 showed that the iceberg's main body has reduced to just 506 square kilometers.
- The iceberg has shrunk to less than one-eighth its initial size of 4,170 square kilometers when it broke away from the Antarctic ice shelf in 1986.
- The primary cause of this rapid breakup is hydrofracturing.
- Satellite images showed blue-colored meltwater accumulating in the iceberg's center, held there by natural bulges on the edges.
- NASA's James Webb Space Telescope identified nearly 800,000 galaxies to create the most detailed dark-matter map over such a large sky area.
- The map has twice the resolution of previous attempts using the Hubble Space Telescope and captures galaxies spanning the past 10 billion years.
- The study, led by Diana Scognamiglio of NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), was published in Nature Astronomy.
- Dark matter comprises just over 25% of the universe, while ordinary matter makes up only 5% and dark energy fills the remainder.
- Scientists infer dark-matter distribution by measuring how its gravity warps light from distant galaxies, a technique called gravitational lensing.
- Astronomers using National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)’s James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) have characterized a remarkable exoplanet with an unusual lemon shaped appearance.
- Designated PSR J2322-2650b, this Jupiter-mass world orbits a rapidly spinning neutron star known as a pulsar.
- Strong gravitational tides from the compact host stretch the planet into a distinctive lemon shaped exoplanet, marking it as one of the most deformed worlds observed to date.
- The lemon shaped exoplanet completes an orbit around its pulsar every 7.8 hours, at a distance of approximately 1 million miles.
- This discovery represents the first known Jupiter-mass gaseous planet orbiting a pulsar.
- Observations with the JWST revealed an atmosphere dominated by helium and carbon, featuring detectable molecular carbon species such as C2 and C3.
- Day-side temperatures reach up to 3,700 degrees Fahrenheit, while the night side cools to about 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit.
- The pulsar’s emission is negligible in the infrared wavelengths observed by JWST, enabling a clear transmission spectrum of the planet’s atmosphere without significant contamination from the host.
- The system resembles a black widow pulsar, where the neutron star evaporates its companion, yet the planetary mass and composition do not fit standard stripping models.
National Test House (NTH) and Standardization Testing & Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate sign MoU to integrate EMI/EMC testing for drone certification.
[ Standardization Testing & Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate]
Key Updates:
- National Test House (NTH) and Standardization Testing & Quality Certification (STQC) Directorate – Electronics Regional Test Laboratory (North) [ERTL (North)] signed an MoU on 2 February 2026.
- The collaboration enables Electromagnetic Interference (EMI) and Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) testing of drones and their subsystems at ERTL (North).
- EMI/EMC testing addresses regulatory requirements under the Drone Rules, 2021 and the Certification Scheme for Unmanned Aircraft Systems (CSUAS), 2022.
- ERTL (North) operates under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
- NTH is approved by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and Quality Council of India (QCI) as a Certification Body (CB) / Authorised Testing Entity (ATE) under CSUAS.
- Testing will follow IEC 61000 / IS 14700 standards.
- Integrated certification pathway offers drone manufacturers, especially startups and MSMEs, government-backed testing without duplication of high-cost infrastructure.
- Drones certified through the collaboration will meet international benchmarks including IEC, ISO, MIL-STD, ASTM, and RTCA standards.
- Lower testing costs aim to accelerate innovation in agriculture, logistics, healthcare delivery, disaster management, infrastructure monitoring, and smart cities.
- National Test House (NTH), established in 1912, operates under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution.
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- The Telecommunication Engineering Centre (TEC) and Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur (IIT Kanpur) will jointly develop 'India-specific standards and testing frameworks for emerging and future communication technologies, including 6G, Artificial Intelligence in Telecom, Non-Terrestrial Networks (NTNs), Internet of Things (IoT), Digital Twin, Metaverse, and Quantum Communication.'
- The collaboration will 'enhance India's active participation and leadership in global standard-setting and radiocommunication bodies such as ITU-T, ITU-R, 3GPP, and other relevant international forums.'
- Joint research will target 'AI/ML for network automation, optimization and intelligent management, with a roadmap towards AI-native capabilities for future networks.'
- Studies will cover 'satellite communication systems, NTNs, HAPS and satellite-terrestrial integration, including disaster-resilient and emergency connectivity solutions.'
- The partnership strengthens 'indigenous research, design and manufacturing in telecom... developing India-specific standards, test frameworks and home-grown solutions that bolster national self-reliance, secure critical communications infrastructure and reduce dependence on imports.'
- The IAF's Software Development Institute (SDI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with IIT-Madras for the joint design and development of an indigenous digital communication system for airborne applications.
- The MoU was signed by Air Vice Marshal R Guruhari, Commandant, SDI; Prof V Kamakoti, Director of IIT Madras and Dr M J Shankar Raman, CEO, Pravartak Technologies Foundation.
- The collaboration aims to develop advanced algorithms for networking and encryption critical for secure, reliable, and high-performance data exchange in dynamic airborne environments.
- Key focus areas include advanced encryption protocols, secure data transmission, resilience against threats, scalability for airborne networks, and integration with existing defence systems.
- UMEX and SimTEX 2026 is taking place from 20 to 22 January at the ADNEC Centre Abu Dhabi under the Patronage of His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan.
- ADNEC Group, a Modon company, delivered a comprehensive showcase of commercial and civilian unmanned and autonomous systems at the event.
- Joby Aviation is showcasing its all-electric air taxi set to begin first operations within the UAE in 2026.
- LODD Autonomous is demonstrating a hybrid heavy-lift cargo drone capable of carrying up to 250 kg of cargo.
- The Abu Dhabi Agriculture and Food Safety Authority is presenting drone technology, autonomous systems, and agricultural robots to transform farming.
- Integrated Transport Centre (ITC) is the Regulatory Mobility Partner and launched the 'Future of Autonomy x ITC' platform with panel sessions and workshops on 21-22 January.
- The Technology Development Board (TDB) under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T), signed an agreement with Vijai Marine Services Private Limited (VMSPL), Goa for the 'Smart Sea Project by Vijai Autonomous Craft for Environment (VACE)'.
- The project will develop and demonstrate a 20-passenger electric boat with IRS-certified FRP hull, electric propulsion and battery systems supplied by Canadian partner ACEL Power Inc.
- Aimed at reducing emissions and noise, the initiative supports India’s goals of clean waterways and sustainable tourism under the Indo-Canada Collaborative Industrial Research and Development Programme (IC-CIR&D).
BEML, IISc Bengaluru and FSID sign tripartite research pact for aerospace, defence and green tech.
[BEML, IISc Bengaluru, FSID]
Key Updates:
- BEML Limited, Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru and Foundation for Science, Innovation and Development (FSID) signed a Tripartite Master Research Agreement (MRA) at IISc campus.
- The collaboration targets blue-sky, applied and translational research in aerospace and defence, rail and metro systems, mining and construction equipment, maritime technologies, next-generation mobility, green technologies and advanced manufacturing.
- The partnership will be anchored through BEML’s newly established Central Research Facility (CRF) for joint knowledge creation, simulation, prototyping, technology validation and intellectual property generation.
- BEML has committed significant R&D investments to sustain the collaborative programmes aligned with national priorities of indigenisation and self-reliance.
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- IREDA secured an ‘Excellent’ MoU rating for the fifth consecutive year with the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE), scoring 96.42 out of 100.
- Union Minister for New and Renewable Energy Shri Pralhad Joshi stated the sustained top-tier performance reflects the organisation’s institutional strength, reform-driven governance, and professional execution.
- IREDA’s CMD Shri Pradip Kumar Das said the recognition is a testament to the dedication of employees, trust of stakeholders, and consistent guidance of the Government of India.
- Department of Space secretary and ISRO chairman Dr. V. Narayanan inaugurated the Isro-Academia Day at ISRO Headquarters in Bengaluru.
- ISRO released the RESPOND Basket 2025, outlining research statements aligned with Isro’s current and future mission needs.
- Premier universities and recognised academic and R&D institutions can submit research proposals through the I-GRASP portal by January 31, 2026.
- The Government has approved the ‘Scheme to Promote Manufacturing of Sintered Rare Earth Permanent Magnet’ (REPM) with a financial outlay of ₹7,280 crore.
- The scheme aims to establish 6,000 metric tonnes per annum (MTPA) of integrated REPM manufacturing capacity in India, covering the full chain from rare-earth oxides to finished magnets.
- The total capacity will be distributed among up to five beneficiaries through a global competitive bidding process, with each beneficiary eligible for up to 1,200 MTPA, ensuring diversification along with adequate scale.
- The scheme includes a strong incentive structure, with ₹6,450 crore earmarked as sales-linked incentives for REPM production over five years.
- A ₹750 crore capital subsidy will support the establishment of advanced, integrated REPM manufacturing facilities.
- The scheme will be implemented over seven years, comprising a two-year gestation period for setting up the integrated REPM facilities followed by five years of incentive disbursement linked to REPM sales.
- This also complements India’s broader focus on strengthening its critical mineral value chain through the National Critical Minerals Mission (NCMM), which aims to improve availability and processing capabilities for key minerals, including rare-earth elements utilised across advanced sectors.
- The Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act) has been reformed under the Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Amendment Act, 2023 to strengthen India’s critical minerals ecosystem by opening private participation in all spheres of mineral exploration.
- The equity capital will be infused by the Department of Financial Services (DFS) in a phased manner over three years.
- Of the total amount, ₹3,000 crore will be infused in FY26 at a book value of ₹568.65 per share as on March 31, 2025.
- The remaining ₹2,000 crore will be infused in two equal tranches of ₹1,000 crore each in FY27 and FY28 at the book value as on March 31 of the respective preceding financial years.
- The number of MSMEs receiving financial assistance is projected to rise from 76.26 lakh at the end of FY25 to about 1.02 crore by the end of FY28.
- The additional MSMEs supported by SIDBI are estimated to generate employment for about 1.12 crore people by the end of FY28.
- The equity infusion will help SIDBI maintain a Capital to Risk-weighted Assets Ratio (CRAR) above 10.5 per cent even under high-stress scenarios and above 14.5 per cent under Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 norms over the next three years.