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13/01/2026

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CA-13/01/2026

• Umbrella Scheme: PM-RKVY will absorb KY, NMNF, and NBHM, streamlining agricultural interventions.
• Timeline: April 2026 – March 2031 (aligned with the 16th Finance Commission cycle).
• Budgetary Outlay: Approx. ₹1.75 lakh crore over five years.
• Objective: Rationalize schemes, reduce duplication, and push state-level reforms by linking funds to performance.

• Integrated Planning: States can design holistic agricultural strategies under one umbrella.
• Efficiency: Reduced administrative overlap, better monitoring.
• Sustainability: Natural farming and apiculture mainstreamed into broader agricultural policy.
• Entrepreneurship: Value chain development and agri-startups supported under PM-RKVY-RAFTAAR framework

• Increase public investment in agriculture and allied sectors.
• Promote innovation & entrepreneurship in farming and agri-business.
• Strengthen infrastructure for irrigation, storage, processing, and marketing.
• Ensure food security and sustainable rural development.
• Encourage decentralized planning by empowering states to design projects based on local needs.

• Funding Pattern: Shared between Centre and States (60:40 for most states, 90:10 for NE & Himalayan states).
• Flexibility: States can propose projects tailored to their agricultural priorities.
• Focus Areas:
  • Crop diversification
  • Integrated farming systems
  • Post-harvest management
  • Value chain development
  • Agri-entrepreneurship incubation

• Over 17,000 projects approved since inception, covering irrigation, mechanization, storage, and market infrastructure.
• Boosted farmer incomes by supporting modern practices and reducing post-harvest losses.
• Encouraged startups in agri-tech through incubation and funding support.

• Protein Target: Scientists identified 15‑PGDH (15‑hydroxy prostaglandin dehydrogenase) as a key driver of cartilage loss in aging joints.
• Mouse Studies: Blocking 15‑PGDH in aged and injured mice led to:
  • Thicker knee cartilage (restoring lost tissue)
  • Improved gait and mobility
  • Reduced pain and inflammation
• Human Tissue Evidence: Samples from knee surgeries showed:

• Stiffer, healthier cartilage after treatment
• Lower inflammation markers
• Suggests regeneration without stem cells, a simpler therapeutic approach.

• Joint pain and tenderness
• Stiffness, especially after inactivity
• Swelling and inflammation
• Loss of flexibility and reduced range of motion
• Grating or crackling sounds (crepitus) during movement

• Causes:
  • Cartilage wear and tear over years
  • Previous joint injuries
  • Abnormal joint development
  • Genetic predisposition
• Risk Factors:
  • Aging
  • Obesity (extra stress on weight-bearing joints)
  • Repetitive stress from certain jobs or sports
  • Family history of arthritis

• Pain relievers (acetaminophen, NSAIDs)
• Topical creams or gels
• Corticosteroid injections for severe pain
• Joint replacement surgery (hip/knee) in severe cases
• Assistive devices (braces, canes)

• Name Origin: The word Hatti comes from haat (small-town market), reflecting their traditional occupation of trading agricultural produce, meat, and wool.
• Location: Primarily found in the Trans-Giri region of Himachal Pradesh and Jaunsar Bawar in Uttarakhand.
• Clans: Two main groups — Trans-Giri Hattis and Jaunsar Bawar Hattis.
• Attire: Hatti men wear a distinctive white headgear during ceremonies.

• Polyandry Tradition: Known locally as Jodidara or Jajda, brothers marry the same woman. This practice historically helped prevent land fragmentation and maintain family unity.
• Festivals: The Boda Tyohar is their largest annual celebration, showcasing music, dance, and community bonding.
• Governance: They maintain traditional councils for community decision-making.

• Predictions for 2026 indicate context windows for general-purpose models will remain around 1 million tokens due to transformer architecture constraints, prioritizing cost-efficiency over endless expansion.
• Innovations like step-by-step reasoning systems allow models to handle millions of tokens by selectively accessing external workspaces, reducing reliance on massive single windows.

• The context window is the maximum amount of text (tokens) an AI model can "see" or consider at once when generating a response.
• A token is a chunk of text—often a word or part of a word. For example, "cat" might be one token, while "unbelievable" could be split into several tokens.
• The size of the context window determines how much information the model can use from the conversation or document before it "forgets" earlier parts.

• Memory span: If the context window is small, the model can only handle short conversations or documents. Larger windows allow it to process entire books, long chats, or complex datasets.
• Accuracy: A bigger window means the AI can keep track of more details, reducing contradictions or repetition.
• Applications:
  • Small windows → good for quick Q&A.
  • Large windows → useful for research, summarizing long reports, or multi-step reasoning.

• Structure: One atom thick, two-dimensional sheet of carbon atoms bonded via sp² hybridization in a hexagonal lattice.
• Relation to Graphite: Graphite is essentially many layers of graphene stacked together.
• Discovery: First isolated in 2004 by Andre Geim and Konstantin Novoselov, who later won the Nobel Prize in Physics (2010) for their work.

• Strength: Tensile strength ≈ 130 GPa (about 200 times stronger than steel).
• Elasticity: Young’s modulus ≈ 1 TPa, meaning it is extremely stiff yet flexible.
• Conductivity:
  • Electrical: Conducts electricity better than copper.
  • Thermal: Conductivity ≈ 5300 W/(m·K), among the highest known.
• Transparency: Almost completely transparent, absorbing only ~2% of visible light.

• Mass Production: Difficult to manufacture defect-free, large sheets at low cost.
• Integration: Incorporating graphene into existing industrial processes remains complex.
• Safety Concerns: Nanoparticles may pose health risks if inhaled or improperly handled.
• Commercialization Gap: Despite hype, widespread consumer applications are still limited.

• Lohri occurs on January 13, 2026, in Punjab and northern India, honoring rabi crops with bonfires and folk songs.
• Pongal spans January 13-16 in Tamil Nadu, starting with Bhogi Pandigai on January 13 to discard the old and welcome prosperity.
• Makar Sankranti and Uttarayana fall on January 14, featuring sesame sweets, kite flying, and the sun's transition into Capricorn

• Punjab and Haryana focus on Lohri's community bonfires, traditional thalis with sarson da saag and makki di roti.​
• Tamil Nadu's Pongal includes cattle honoring on Mattu Pongal (January 15) and family gatherings on Kaanum Pongal (January 16).​
• Assam's Magh Bihu on January 15 involves feasts and games after the harvest.​
• Gujarat and other states emphasize kite festivals during Makar Sankranti.​

• Historic Visit
  • German Chancellor Friedrich Merz made his first official visit to India and Asia from 12–13 January 2026, accompanied by 23 German CEOs.
  • The visit coincided with 75 years of diplomatic relations (2026) and 25 years of Strategic Partnership (2025).
• Agreements Signed (19 MoUs)
  • Defence & Security: Strengthening bilateral defence industrial cooperation.
  • Trade & Economy: Establishment of a CEO Forum integrated into the India–Germany Economic & Investment Committee.
  • Critical & Emerging Technologies: Partnerships in semiconductors, critical minerals, and telecommunications.
  • Green Energy: Funding for renewable energy projects and cooperation in climate action.
  • Skills & Education: Expanded skills partnership to boost workforce mobility.
• Visa-Free Transit
  • Germany announced visa-free airport transit for Indian passport holders, easing travel and connectivity.
• Indo-Pacific Cooperation
  • Both leaders reaffirmed commitment to a free, open, and rules-based Indo-Pacific, emphasizing maritime security and supply chain resilience.

Area	India’s Priority	Germany’s Priority	Joint Outcome
Defence	Indigenous defence industry growth	Industrial cooperation, tech sharing	Defence industrial partnership
Trade & Economy	Market access, investment flows	CEO Forum, investment opportunities	Joint Economic & Investment Committee
Technology	Semiconductor ecosystem, telecom growth	Critical minerals, advanced tech	Tech cooperation MoUs
Green Energy	Renewable funding, climate action	Green hydrogen, sustainability	Joint green energy projects
Mobility & Skills	Workforce opportunities abroad	Skilled labor for German industries	Expanded skills partnership
Connectivity	Easier travel for citizens	Stronger people-to-people ties	Visa-free airport transit

• Implementation Gap: Past MoUs sometimes faced delays in execution; monitoring mechanisms will be crucial.
• Geopolitical Pressures: Indo-Pacific commitments may be tested by regional tensions.
• Technology Dependence: Semiconductor and critical mineral cooperation must balance strategic autonomy with reliance on German expertise.
• Climate Financing: Ensuring equitable funding and technology transfer in green energy projects remains a challenge.

• The Agricultural and Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA) is a statutory body under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of India, established in 1986 to promote and develop the export of agricultural and processed food products.
• APEDA replaced the Processed Food Export Promotion Council (PFEPC) and has since become the nodal agency for promoting India’s agri-exports.

• Export Promotion: Facilitates and promotes exports of scheduled products (fruits, vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy, confectionery, alcoholic beverages, etc.).
• Certification & Standards: Provides quality certification, traceability systems, and compliance with international standards.
• Capacity Building: Organizes training, workshops, and trade meets for farmers, exporters, and producer groups.
• Market Development: Supports infrastructure, branding, and participation in international trade fairs.
• Schemes: Runs initiatives like the NPOP (National Programme for Organic Production) and AgriExchange portal for market intelligence.

• Export Growth: From USD 0.6 billion in 1987-88 to USD 24.77 billion in 2021-22, with targets close to USD 30 billion by 2022-23.
• Global Reach: APEDA products are exported to over 200 countries worldwide.
• Recent Expansion: New regional offices, such as in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, to empower farmers and boost exports of GI-tagged rice varieties like Jeeraphool and Nagri Dubraj, along with fruits and minor forest produce.

• Basmati and non-basmati rice
• Fruits & vegetables (fresh and processed)
• Meat & poultry products
• Dairy products
• Confectionery, biscuits, and bakery items
• Alcoholic beverages
• Organic products

• Global Competition: India faces competition from countries with advanced agri-tech.
• Quality Standards: Meeting stringent international norms is critical.
• Infrastructure Gaps: Cold chains, logistics, and certification facilities need expansion.
• Farmer Awareness: Small farmers often lack knowledge of export procedures.

• Type: Third-generation, fire-and-forget anti-tank guided missile
• Origin: India, developed by DRDO
• Manufacturer: Bharat Dynamics Limited (BDL) with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) support
• Weight: Missile – 14.5 kg; Command Launch Unit (CLU) – 14.25 kg
• Range: 200 m – 4,000 m
• Guidance System: Imaging Infrared (IIR) seeker with advanced AI-based image processing
• Warhead: Tandem-charge HEAT capable of penetrating 660 mm RHA + ERA or 710 mm RHA
• Launch Platforms: Tripod or military vehicle launcher
• Engine: Dual-thrust rocket with solid fuel
• Capability: Top-attack mode to destroy heavily armored tanks and direct-attack mode for lighter targets

• Self-reliance: MPATGM is part of India’s Aatmanirbhar Bharat initiative, reducing dependence on foreign imports.
• Army Induction: Successful trials pave the way for deployment in infantry units, enhancing India’s anti-armor capabilities.
• Cost Advantage: Being indigenously produced, MPATGM is expected to be more affordable compared to imported systems like Javelin or Spike.

• Part of the Bhashini initiative: India’s flagship mission to make digital services and content available in all major Indian languages using AI-driven language technologies.
• Collaborative platform: It brings together diverse stakeholders—language experts, translators, researchers, startups, and institutions—into one ecosystem.
• Community-driven: Encourages contributions of datasets, tools, and linguistic expertise to strengthen India’s multilingual AI capabilities.

• Democratize access: Ensure that citizens can interact with digital platforms in their native languages.
• Boost innovation: Provide open datasets and APIs for startups, researchers, and developers to build language solutions.
• Preserve linguistic diversity: Support India’s 22 scheduled languages and hundreds of dialects by embedding them into digital systems.

• Full form: National Institute for Research and Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience (NIRANTAR).
• Purpose: It acts as a platform of institutions under Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC) to improve coordination, avoid duplication, and maximize the use of expertise, manpower, and facilities.
• Focus areas:
  • Conservation of biodiversity, forests, and wildlife.
  • Pollution prevention and abatement.
  • Wise and balanced utilization of India’s natural resources.
  • Building resilience against environmental challenges.

• India has a large repository of natural resources, but fragmented institutional efforts often led to inefficiencies.
• NIRANTAR was established to revisit and recalibrate institutional arrangements, ensuring synergy and filling gaps in research and monitoring.
• It supports balanced policy-making that integrates environmental protection with industrial development.

Feature	Description
Institutional Collaboration	Brings together MoEF&CC institutions for joint research and monitoring
Policy Support	Provides evidence-based inputs for balanced environmental and industrial policies
Resource Utilization	Promotes suitable and wise use of natural resources
Resilience Building	Focuses on adapting to climate change and environmental stress

• Coordination hurdles: Aligning multiple institutions with different mandates can be complex.
• Balancing growth vs. conservation: Ensuring industrial development doesn’t compromise ecological sustainability.
• Implementation capacity: Success depends on adequate funding, skilled manpower, and political will.

• ICEGATE (Indian Customs Electronic Gateway): India’s flagship digital customs platform, already used at seaports, airports, and inland container depots.
• LPMS (Land Port Management System): The system that manages operations at land ports, including cargo movement, passenger facilitation, and security.

• Enables real-time, two-way data exchange between customs and land port systems.
• Creates a unified digital ecosystem for cross-border trade.
• Aligns land ports with the digital standards already operational at seaports and airports.

• Electronic Filing (E-Filing): Importers/exporters can file Bills of Entry, Shipping Bills, and other customs documents online.
• E-Payment: Customs duties and taxes can be paid digitally through authorized banks.
• Registration: Online registration for Importer Exporter Code (IEC), SEZ, custodians, and other stakeholders.
• Document Tracking: Real-time status of documents filed with Customs EDI systems.
• Integration: Links with DGFT, RBI (EDPMS/IDPMS), GSTN, SEZ, and other government agencies for seamless compliance.
• Grievance Redressal: Online helpdesk and complaint lodging system.

• Technical Issues: Users sometimes face downtime or errors during filing.
• Digital Literacy: Small traders may struggle with portal navigation.
• Compliance Complexity: Integration with multiple agencies requires accurate data entry.
• Security Risks: As with any online portal, users must safeguard login credentials and financial details.

• Born on 12 January 1598 at Sindkhed Raja in present-day Maharashtra.
• Daughter of Lakhuji Jadhav, a nobleman of the Devagiri Yadava lineage.
• Married Shahaji Bhosale in 1605, becoming part of the Bhonsle family.

• Jijabai was a deeply religious and determined woman who nurtured Shivaji with stories from the Ramayana and Mahabharata.
• She instilled in him the ideals of dharma, justice, and patriotism, motivating him to fight against oppression and establish self-rule.
• Her guidance was crucial in shaping Shivaji’s vision of Hindavi Swaraj (self-rule for the people of India).

• Known as the first ideologue of Hindavi Swaraj, she believed Indians should rule themselves according to their culture and values.
• She managed forts and administrative duties during Shivaji’s early campaigns, proving her leadership skills.
• Passed away on 17 June 1674, shortly after Shivaji’s coronation as Chhatrapati.

• Objective: Free coaching for students preparing for UPSC, NEET, JEE, NDA, CDS, and other competitive exams.
• Impact: Over 350 candidates have succeeded in exams since launch, including 23 IAS officers and more than 100 UPPSC qualifiers.
• Support: Classes are conducted both offline (district centers) and online (digital platforms).

• Phase 1 & 2: Focused on district-level coaching centers.
• Phase 3 (Abhyudaya-3): Expands to block-level coaching centers, ensuring local access for rural students, especially girls.
• Recent Success: In 2025, 81 students cleared NEET and 13 cleared UPSC through the scheme.
• Goal: Democratize education by bridging the gap between urban coaching hubs and rural talent.

• Quality of Faculty: Scaling to block level may dilute teaching quality unless strong monitoring is ensured.
• Digital Divide: Online classes may not reach students without internet access.
• Sustainability: Long-term funding and consistent mentorship are critical for continued success.

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