• 31 Jan 2026

BNHS and Jharkhand Forest Department Sign MoU for Vulture Conservation

Why in News? 

The Bombay Natural History Society (BNHS) has signed a five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Jharkhand Forest Department. 

Key Points 

• Implementation Period: The MoU is effective from Financial Year 2025–26 and will continue for five years to support scientific breeding, monitoring, training and long-term conservation. 
• Critical Species Targeted: The programme focuses on two critically endangered vulture species — the Oriental White-backed Vulture and the Long-billed Vulture. 
• Status: Both of which play a vital ecological role as scavengers.  
  • IUCN Status: Critically Endangered 
  • WPA Status: Highest legal protection under Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. 
• Scientific Breeding Support: BNHS will provide technical expertise for captive breeding, health monitoring and best practices, while the Jharkhand Forest Department will lead on-ground implementation.  
• Vulture Conservation Centre: The partnership is expected to enhance operations at the Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre (VCBC) near Muta, Ranchi. 
• Ecological Importance: Vultures help maintain ecosystem health by disposing of animal carcasses, reducing disease spread and supporting nutrient recycling. 
  • They have suffered severe declines due to threats such as the veterinary drug diclofenac, habitat loss and poisoning.

Read More: IUCN,  WPA, Vulture Conservation and Breeding Centre (VCBC),BNHS 

India’s First FRP Aluminium Manufacturing Unit in Odisha

Why in News? 

The Chief Minister of Odisha inaugurated India’s first Flat Rolled Products (FRP) aluminium manufacturing unit at the Aditya Aluminium complex in Sambalpur district. 

Key Points 

• Industry: The project is part of the flat-rolled aluminium (FRP) and battery foil segment, critical inputs for sectors like automotive, energy storage and electronics. 
• Investments Announced: The company underscored an investment of around ₹50,000 crore towards expanding aluminium manufacturing and related capacities in Odisha. 
• Domestic Manufacturing Boost: This initiative is expected to reduce dependence on imports of specialised aluminium products, enhancing India’s self-reliance in advanced aluminium processing. 
  • New facilities are projected to generate direct and indirect employment opportunities, strengthening regional industrial growth. 
• Policy Alignment: Make in India and Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives 
• Strategic Value Chain Development: Strengthens downstream aluminium value chain, crucial for electric vehicles and renewable energy storage. 

Read More:  Make in India, Atmanirbhar Bharat initiatives 

Annual Action Plans for Air Pollution Control in Rajasthan

Why in News? 

The Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) reviewed the Annual Action Plans (AAPs) and sector-specific measures adopted by districts of Rajasthan falling in the National Capital Region (NCR) to strengthen efforts towards abatement of air pollution. 

Key Points 

• Purpose: Assessment of preparedness and implementation of pollution control measures under Annual Action Plans. 
• Legal Status: Statutory body under the CAQM Act, 2021 
• CAQM Directions: Strengthen implementation mechanisms, ensure inter-departmental coordination, adopt preventive measures, and improve real-time monitoring and reporting. 
• Objectives: Reduce PM2.5 and PM10 levels and ensure uniform air quality management across NCR states. 
  • PM10 (coarse particles): Particles with a diameter of 10 micrometres or less.   
  • PM2.5 (fine particles): Particles with a diameter of 2.5 micrometres or less. 
• Focus Sectors: Transport, Industry, Construction & Demolition (C&D), Road Dust, Biomass & Waste Burning etc. 
• Significance:  
  • Regional Approach: Addresses air pollution as a transboundary issue across NCR states. 
  • Policy Integration: Ensures state action plans are aligned with national air quality goals. 
  • Public Health Impact: Aims to reduce health risks associated with prolonged air pollution exposure. 
  • Governance Strengthening: Enhances accountability and implementation efficiency at district and state levels. 
• Framework Alignment: With Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP).

Read More:  Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM), Graded Response Action Plan (GRAP), 

Bihar Cabinet Approves Second Instalment of Mahila Rozgar Yojana

Why in News? 

The Bihar Cabinet has approved the second instalment of financial assistance under the Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana. 

Key Points 

• Scheme: The Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana was launched to provide financial support to women in Bihar to start self-employment ventures and become economically self-reliant. 
  • First Instalment: The first financial assistance of ₹10,000 was directly transferred to the bank accounts of millions of women beneficiaries under the scheme through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT). 
• Second Instalment Schedule: The second instalment of financial assistance is scheduled to be disbursed from February 2026. 
• Objective: The scheme aims to support women entrepreneurs in setting up and scaling their small businesses or employment initiatives, fostering self-employment and financial independence. 
  • Beyond the initial and second installments, eligible women entrepreneurs could receive additional financial support of up to ₹2 lakh based on their performance and requirement after assessing their business model. 
• Women’s Economic Empowerment: The phased disbursement of financial assistance reinforces the objective of empowering women economically, especially in rural and semi-urban areas.

Read More:  Mukhyamantri Mahila Rojgar Yojana,  Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), Women’s Economic Empowerment 

Google DeepMind’s AlphaGenome AI Tool

Why in News? 

Google DeepMind has launched AlphaGenome, an artificial intelligence tool designed to predict how genetic mutations influence gene regulation and contribute to human diseases. 

Key Points 

• Objective: The AI tool developed by Google DeepMind is used to analyse long DNA sequences and predict the biological impact of genetic variations. 
  • Primarily targets non-coding (regulatory) DNA regions, which constitute about 98% of the human genome and play a key role in gene regulation. 
• DNA Analysis Capacity: Capable of analysing up to one million DNA base pairs simultaneously, allowing assessment of long-range genetic regulatory effects. 
  • Predicts effects of mutations on gene expression, RNA splicing, chromatin accessibility, and regulatory activity. 
  • Helps to identify genetic drivers of complex diseases such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders, autoimmune diseases, and neurological conditions. 
• Training Data: Trained on large-scale public genomic datasets from humans and mice to identify patterns linking DNA sequences with biological outcomes. 
  • Acts as a virtual laboratory, enabling scientists to test genetic hypotheses before conducting costly and time-consuming biological experiments. 
• Availability: Released for non-commercial research use through an Application Programming Interface (API) to support global scientific collaboration. 
• Limitations: Not approved for clinical diagnosis or personalised medical treatment; predictions depend on quality and diversity of training data. 

Read More: Artificial intelligence, Genetic variations, DNA , RNA 

Maharashtra’s Tableau Wins First at Republic Day Parade 2026

Why in News? 

Maharashtra’s state tableau won first place among states and union territories at the Republic Day Parade 2026. 

Key Points 

• Maharashtra Tableau Theme: “Ganeshotsav: A Symbol of Aatmanirbharta” emphasised cultural heritage, community participation, social unity and self-reliance. 
  • The tableau showcased Ganeshotsav festivities, celebrating traditions and community strength, with participation from a Nagpur dhol-tasha group enhancing cultural appeal. 
• Other Winners: 
  • Second Place: Jammu & Kashmir for a display on handicrafts and folk dances. 
  • Third Place: Kerala for a tableau on Water Metro and 100% Digital Literacy.  
• Marching Contingents: The Indian Navy was named Best Marching Contingent among the three armed services. 
  • The Delhi Police won among Central Armed Police Forces. 
• Ministry Category: The Ministry of Culture won the best tableau among central ministries for its presentation “Vande Mataram – The Soul Cry of a Nation.” 
• Significance: The awards reflect excellence in cultural representation, thematic creativity and promote national pride by showcasing India’s diversity, heritage and developmental narratives.

Read More:  Republic Day 2026, Vande Mataram 

PFRDA Constitutes Expert Committee on SAARG for NPS

Why in News?

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has set up an Expert Committee on Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG) to review and modernise the investment framework of the National Pension System (NPS).

Key Points:

• Aim: To align NPS fund management with global best practices and strengthen long-term retirement outcomes for subscribers. 
• Objective: Strengthening the long-term investment architecture of NPS by improving diversification, enhancing risk management practices and expanding investment choices available to subscribers. 
• Composition of the Committee:The SAARG Committee is chaired by Narayan Ramachandran, former Country Head of Morgan Stanley India.  
  • Experts: It includes experts from asset management, capital markets, regulation, and investment advisory, along with senior PFRDA representation. 
• Mandate of the Committee: SAARG has been tasked with undertaking a comprehensive review of existing NPS investment guidelines for both government and non-government sectors.  
  • The review will include benchmarking India’s pension investment framework with leading global pension systems as well as the evolving domestic investment ecosystem. 
• Significance:This initiative is crucial for improving portfolio resilience, return optimisation, and risk mitigation in pension funds.  
  • It reflects India’s efforts to deepen long-term domestic capital pools and ensure financial security for an ageing population. 

Read More: PFRDA, National Pension System,  Morgan Stanley India 

India's First AI-Enabled State University Pilot Launched at CCSU Meerut

Why in News? 

At Google’s AI for Learning Forum held in New Delhi, Jayant Chaudhary, outlined the government’s strategic vision for integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into India’s education and skilling ecosystems.

Key Points: 

• Strategic Collaboration:The government announced a landmark collaboration between MSDE, Google Cloud, and Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), Meerut to launch India’s first AI-enabled state university pilot.  
• Key Initiatives: CCSU will serve as a national “living laboratory” to deploy and test AI tools in both academic and administrative settings. 
  • Personalised AI Tutors: Students will have access to AI mentors that adjust to individual learning and offer multilingual support. 
  • Skill-Gap Analysis: Advanced tools will analyze learner profiles against industry needs for targeted training. 
  • Operational Efficiency: The university will use intelligent document processing and automated workflows to reduce staff workload. 
• Demographic Dynamism:The initiative aims to address the gap between degrees and required skills to move from a "demographic dividend" to "demographic dynamism," where students from smaller cities can access global learning tools. 
• Alignment with National Priorities:The pilot supports the Viksit Bharat 2047 vision by fostering a technology-driven, inclusive educational ecosystem that prepares youth for future jobs and reduces the digital divide.  
  • By leveraging global partnerships and advanced AI platforms, India aims to emerge as a leader in AI-first education innovation.

Read More: Artificial Intelligence  Viksit Bharat 2047 

Assam PSU to Set Up e-Methanol Plant at Deendayal Port

Why in News? 

In a significant step toward the "Green Transition" of India’s maritime sector, Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APL) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Deendayal Port Authority (DPA) to establish a 150 Tonnes Per Day (TPD) e-Methanol plant at Kandla, Gujarat. 

Key Points: 

• A Strategic Inter-State Collaboration:The project represents a unique collaboration between a Government of Assam undertaking (APL) and a Major Port under the Union Ministry of Ports, Shipping and Waterways (DPA). 
• Location: The plant will be situated at the Deendayal Port (Kandla), Gujarat, leveraging its strategic position as a global shipping hub. 
• Technology: The facility will produce e-Methanol (Electronic Methanol), a carbon-neutral fuel synthesized from green hydrogen and captured carbon dioxide (CO2). 
  • Capacity: With a capacity of 150 TPD, it aims to cater to the growing demand for clean marine fuels. 
• Alternate Fuel: It is considered a viable green marine fuel and can also be used in heavy industries and chemical manufacturing where direct electrification is challenging. 
• Strategic Significance: Supports India’s maritime decarbonisation goals by promoting clean marine fuels and aligning with international emissions norms for shipping. 
  • Energy Transition: Contributes to the national push toward clean energy and sustainability, aligning with net-zero emissions by 2070 commitments. 

Read More: Net-zero emissions, Deendayal Port (Kandla) 

Kerala Becomes First Indian State to Declare an Official ‘State Microbe’

Why in News? 

The Government of Kerala has officially declared Bacillus subtilis as its State Microbe, becoming the first Indian state to recognise a microorganism in its roster of state symbols.

Key Points:

• About Bacillus subtilis: Bacillus subtilis, commonly known as the ‘Hay Bacillus’, is a Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterium found primarily in soil and the gastrointestinal tract of humans and ruminants.  
  • Bacillus subtilis is a non-pathogenic, probiotic bacterium widely found in soil, fermented foods and the human gut.  
• Resilience: It is famous for its ability to form tough, protective endospores, allowing it to survive extreme environmental conditions like heat and drought. 
• Safety: It is categorized as GRAS (Generally Regarded As Safe) by global food authorities and is a key ingredient in traditional fermented foods like the Japanese Natto. 
• Promotion of ‘One Health’: The move underscores the interconnectedness of human, animal, and environmental health, as B. subtilis plays a role in all three. 
• Combatting AMR: By highlighting "good bacteria," the state aims to educate the public on the microbiome, potentially curbing the irrational use of antibiotics that leads to Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR). 
• Biotechnology Hub: Kerala aims to position itself as a leader in Microbial Biotechnology.

Read More: Antimicrobial Resistance, One Health