Daily Current Affairs 2025  

29/01/2026

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CA-29/01/2026

• Born: 28 January 1865, Dhudike village, Punjab (then British India).
• Family: Came from an educated Aggarwal family.
• Influence: Deeply inspired by the Arya Samaj movement, which emphasized Vedic revivalism and social reform.

• Punjab Kesari: Earned the title "Lion of Punjab" for his courage and fiery speeches.
• Lal-Bal-Pal Trio: Alongside Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal, he formed the radical nationalist group that pushed for Swaraj (self-rule).
• Partition of Bengal (1905): Actively opposed the British decision, promoting Swadeshi and boycotting foreign goods.
• Simon Commission Protest (1928): Led a peaceful march in Lahore against the all-British commission. He was brutally injured in a police lathi charge and succumbed to his injuries on 17 November 1928.

• Political Leadership: Senior leader in the Indian National Congress.
• Social Reform: Advocated for education, women’s upliftment, and eradication of social evils.
• Institutions Founded: Helped establish Punjab National Bank and Servants of the People Society to promote self-reliance and social service.
• Author: Wrote extensively on nationalism and social issues, inspiring generations of Indians.

• Martyrdom: His death became a rallying cry for revolutionaries. Bhagat Singh and his associates avenged his death by targeting British officer J.P. Saunders.
• Tributes: Leaders across India, including the Prime Minister and Vice President, continue to honor him annually on his birth anniversary (28 January).
• Inspiration: Remembered as a visionary who combined political activism with social reform, embodying the spirit of “Nation First.”

• MeitY Whitepaper (2025):
  • Released to guide India’s transition to quantum-safe cybersecurity.
  • Calls for public and private sectors to identify vulnerable areas, especially in national security, public service data, and financial transactions.
  • CERT-In and SISA launched “Transitioning to Quantum Cyber Readiness” to support encryption innovation.
• Strategic Imperative:
  • Quantum readiness is seen as essential for digital sovereignty and national defense preparedness.

• BISAG-N & QNu Labs MoU (2026):
  • Collaboration to strengthen India’s quantum-resilient cybersecurity solutions.
  • Focus on developing indigenous quantum-safe technologies aligned with national security needs.
  • Reflects an “India-first” approach to future-proofing digital infrastructure.

• National Security: Quantum computing could break classical encryption, making quantum-resistant algorithms vital for defense and intelligence.
• Digital Economy: India’s leadership in digital payments and online public services makes quantum-safe encryption critical to prevent systemic risks.
• Global Positioning: India is positioning itself as a cybersecurity power, showcasing capabilities at international forums like Cybertech Global Tel Aviv 2026.

Initiative	Year	Focus Area	Key Impact
MeitY Whitepaper	2025	National quantum-safe roadmap	Guides public & private adoption of quantum-resilient encryption
CERT-In & SISA Program	2025	Cyber readiness	Helps organizations transition to quantum-safe systems
BISAG-N & QNu Labs MoU	2026	Indigenous quantum cybersecurity	Builds India-first quantum-resilient solutions
International Showcases	2026	Global collaboration	Positions India as a cybersecurity leader

• Implementation Gap: Transitioning legacy systems to quantum-safe encryption is complex and resource-intensive.
• Global Race: Other nations (US, China, EU) are advancing rapidly; India must accelerate R&D to remain competitive.
• Workforce Readiness: Requires upskilling cybersecurity professionals in post-quantum cryptography.

• Four mandatory categories:
  • Wet waste (biodegradable, kitchen scraps)
  • Dry waste (plastic, paper, metals, glass)
  • Sanitary waste (diapers, sanitary napkins, medical disposables)
  • Special care waste (hazardous items, e-waste, batteries)
• Households, offices, and institutions must comply.

• Residential societies, offices, hotels, and government buildings producing large volumes of waste must process wet waste at source (e.g., composting, biogas units).
• Failure to comply can attract environmental compensation under the Polluter Pays principle.

• ULBs can levy user charges for waste collection and management.
• They are empowered to impose penalties for violations.
• Decentralized waste management is encouraged to reduce landfill burden.

• A national online portal will track compliance:
  • Registrations of bulk generators
  • Submission of reports and audits
• Transparency in enforcement and monitoring.

• Authorized recycling centers will handle e-waste, hazardous waste, and other tricky categories.
• Push for formal recycling systems to reduce informal dumping.

• Cleaner cities: Reduces landfill overflow and open dumping.
• Better recycling rates: Ensures valuable materials are recovered.
• Health & environment: Proper disposal of sanitary and hazardous waste prevents contamination.
• Citizen responsibility: Every household must actively segregate waste.

• Implementation gap: Smaller towns may struggle with infrastructure.
• Citizen compliance: Requires strong awareness campaigns.
• Cost burden: User charges may face resistance.
• Monitoring capacity: ULBs need training and resources to enforce rules.

• Exemption from Environmental Clearance
  CETPs no longer require prior environmental clearance, significantly reducing bureaucratic delays in their establishment.
• Rationalised Regulatory Framework
  The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has simplified compliance norms to encourage industries to adopt CETPs.
• Focus on Industrial Clusters
  The reforms are designed to accelerate CETP deployment in industrial hubs, where multiple small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can share centralized effluent treatment facilities.
• Pollution Control Infrastructure Strengthening
  CETPs will enable scientific management and effective monitoring of industrial effluents, reducing environmental risks.

• For Industries
  • Reduced approval timelines and compliance burden.
  • Cost-sharing across multiple units lowers individual investment in effluent treatment.
  • Easier expansion in highly polluting sectors without repeated license renewals.
• For Environment & Communities
  • Centralized treatment ensures better monitoring and accountability.
  • Helps prevent untreated discharges into rivers and groundwater.
  • Supports India’s broader sustainability and climate commitments.

• Oversight Concerns: While clearance requirements are waived, strong monitoring mechanisms must remain to prevent misuse.
• Cluster Dependency: CETPs work best in dense industrial areas; isolated units may still struggle with effluent management.
• Operational Efficiency: Past CETPs in India have faced issues with underutilization, poor maintenance, and financial sustainability.

• Source of Bacteria: Dust plumes originating in the Thar Desert and western India are lifted by strong pre-monsoon winds.
• Transport Pathway: These plumes travel across the Indo-Gangetic Plains and settle over Eastern Himalayan hilltops, altering the atmospheric microbiology.
• Adaptability of Microbes: The bacteria are extremophiles, adapted to survive harsh desert conditions, making them resilient during long-distance transport.
• Health Risks Identified:
  • Respiratory illnesses (e.g., asthma, bronchitis, infections)
  • Skin infections (due to direct contact with airborne pathogens)
  • Gastrointestinal issues (linked to contaminated water sources and ingestion of dust particles)

• High-altitude vulnerability: Cold temperatures, hypoxia, and limited healthcare access in Himalayan regions amplify the risks of airborne infections.
• Shift in perception: The Himalayas, often considered a “clean air zone,” are now shown to be exposed to transboundary microbial pollution.
• Policy implications: Findings call for national health action plans and forecast systems to monitor microbial transport and prepare for outbreaks.

• Health monitoring: Establish airborne pathogen surveillance in Himalayan towns.
• Forecast systems: Integrate microbial transport into dust storm prediction models.
• Public awareness: Educate residents and tourists about risks during dust storm seasons.
• Research expansion: More studies needed on links between airborne microbes and disease outcomes in high-altitude populations.

• Developed by: International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI), under the Department of Science and Technology (DST), India.
• Core Innovation: Dual-functional Porous Graphene Carbon Nanocomposite (PGCN) electrodes.
• Voltage Capability: Operates at 3.4 V, compared to the 2.5–3.0 V range of commercial supercapacitors.
• Energy Density: Nearly double that of conventional supercapacitors.
• Applications:
  • Electric Vehicles (EVs): Increased range and faster acceleration.
  • Renewable Energy Systems: Stable integration with solar panels and grid storage.
  • Design Simplification: Reduces need for stacking multiple cells, lowering costs.

• EV Performance Boost: Higher voltage and energy density mean EVs can accelerate faster and travel longer distances without increasing battery size.
• Safety Improvements: Conventional electrolytes face decomposition and flammability risks above 3.0 V. The PGCN electrode design overcomes this instability.
• Cost Efficiency: Simplified design reduces complexity in modules, potentially lowering manufacturing costs.
• Renewable Integration: Stable high-voltage supercapacitors can smooth fluctuations in solar and wind energy, improving grid reliability.

• EV Adoption: With India pushing for widespread EV adoption, this innovation could make domestic EVs more competitive globally.
• Renewable Energy: Supports India’s ambitious solar and wind energy targets by providing safer, high-capacity storage.
• Make in India Boost: Strengthens India’s position in advanced materials and energy storage technologies.

• Health: Regular immunization, maternal health, child nutrition.
• Nutrition: Supplementary nutrition under ICDS for young children.
• Education: School attendance, learning outcomes.
• Sanitation: Household toilet coverage, hygiene practices.
• Animal Welfare: Vaccination and care of livestock.

• Aspirational Districts: 5 KPIs targeted for saturation.
• Aspirational Blocks: 6 KPIs targeted for saturation.
• These KPIs are designed to measure progress in basic human development needs and ensure equitable growth.

• Builds on Success of 2024 Campaign: The first Sampoornata Abhiyaan showed measurable improvements in service delivery and coverage.
• Direct Impact on Citizens: Ensures that no household or individual is left out of essential government schemes.
• Supports Aspirational Districts Programme: Strengthens India’s push toward reducing regional disparities and improving governance in underdeveloped areas.
• Community Participation: District collectors, state officials, and development partners are actively involved, making it a collaborative effort.

• Implementation Gaps: Ensuring last-mile delivery in remote areas.
• Monitoring: Accurate tracking of KPIs across 112 districts and 513 blocks.
• Community Awareness: Success depends on active participation and awareness among citizens.

• Framework: The cooperation is under the India–Euratom agreement, signed in July 2020. Euratom (European Atomic Energy Community) is the EU’s body for coordinating nuclear research and safety.
• Scope of Collaboration:
  • Nuclear science & technology R&D: Joint research projects to advance fundamental and applied nuclear sciences.
  • Advanced materials for detectors: Development of cutting-edge materials for radiation detection and monitoring.
  • Radiation safety & nuclear security: Enhancing protocols to ensure safe handling and secure use of nuclear materials.
  • Non-power applications: Expanding nuclear technology beyond electricity generation, such as in medicine, agriculture, and industry.
  • Radio-pharmaceuticals: Cooperation in producing isotopes used in medical diagnostics and cancer treatment.
• ITER Project: Strengthened collaboration in the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor, the world’s largest fusion experiment in France, where India is already a major partner.

• Energy Security: India gains access to advanced nuclear technologies, supporting its clean energy transition.
• Global Leadership: Both India and the EU position themselves as leaders in peaceful nuclear applications, reinforcing commitments to non-proliferation.
• Healthcare Impact: Radio-pharmaceutical cooperation can boost India’s medical infrastructure, especially in cancer diagnostics and therapy.
• Fusion Future: ITER collaboration ties India to the global effort to make fusion energy commercially viable, potentially revolutionizing energy supply.

• Established: 1957 under the Treaty of Rome (entered into force on 1 January 1958)
• Purpose: To create a common market for nuclear energy, ensuring safe, secure, and peaceful use of atomic energy across Europe.
• Members: All EU member states; associated states include Switzerland and the United Kingdom (post-Brexit, UK remains associated via agreements).
• Institutional Framework: Shares institutions with the European Union, including the European Commission.
• Scope: Focuses on civil nuclear energy only (not military applications).

• Promote research and development in nuclear energy.
• Ensure supply of nuclear fuels to member states.
• Establish uniform safety standards for radiation protection.
• Facilitate investment in nuclear energy projects.
• Encourage international cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy.

• Empower Panchayat Representatives: Provide simplified workflows, contextual guidance, and easy access to schemes and data.
• Strengthen Governance: Reduce procedural complexity and improve service delivery at the village level.
• Citizen Engagement: Enable surveys, feedback, and transparent communication between Panchayats and citizens.
• Capacity Building: Offer training modules and real-time updates to enhance decision-making.

• Digital Companion for Panchayats: Acts as a ready reference for schemes, policies, and governance practices.
• Two-Way Interaction: Allows Panchayat officials to both receive updates and share feedback.
• Integration with UNICEF’s RAPIDPRO platform: Ensures scalability, security, and privacy compliance.
• Survey & Training Tools: Helps in monitoring schemes and building capacity at the grassroots.
• Historic Digital Connect: First time the Government of India has established a direct digital link with all Panchayat representatives nationwide.

• Symbolic measure of global risk: Midnight represents apocalypse; the closer the clock is to midnight, the greater the perceived threat.
• Created in 1947 by the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, founded by Albert Einstein and Manhattan Project scientists.
• Updated annually by the Bulletin’s Science and Security Board, in consultation with Nobel laureates and experts.

• Global Awareness Tool: The clock is not a prediction but a warning, urging governments and citizens to act.
• Policy Implications: Highlights urgency for nuclear arms control, climate action, and regulation of emerging technologies.
• Public Engagement: Designed to make abstract risks tangible and motivate collective responsibility.

• Promote awareness of Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) among youth.
• Encourage participatory democracy and leadership skills.
• Provide a platform for discussing local issues like education, health, environment, and employment.
• Train youth in decision-making, debate, and consensus-building.

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