NATIONAL NEWS

Draft National Electricity Policy 2026

• The Ministry of Power has released the Draft National Electricity Policy 2026 outlining the future direction of India’s power sector.

• The policy serves as a strategic blueprint to build a sustainable, efficient and resilient electricity ecosystem.

• It is aligned with the national vision of Viksit Bharat @2047, focusing on long-term energy security.

• A target has been set to raise per capita electricity consumption to 2,000 kWh by 2030.

• Consumption is further projected to cross 4,000 kWh per capita by the year 2047.

• Currently, India’s per capita electricity usage stands at 1,460 kWh (2024–25).

• The draft integrates India’s climate goals, including a 45% reduction in emissions intensity by 2030.

• Once finalised, it will replace the existing National Electricity Policy of 2005, modernising the power framework.

Operation Trashi-I: Counter-Terrorism Drive in Kishtwar Forests

• Operation Trashi-I entered its fourth day in January 2026, with intensified security action in the dense forest areas of Chatroo, Kishtwar district (J&K).

• It is a joint counter-terror operation involving the Indian Army, Jammu & Kashmir Police (including SOG), and the CRPF.

• The operation was launched based on specific intelligence inputs about terrorist presence in forested belts.

• The primary focus is to track and neutralise terrorists using forests as concealment zones.

• Efforts are also directed at destroying hideouts, supply chains, and logistical networks of terror groups.

• The operation aims to block infiltration and movement corridors linking the Jammu region with the Kashmir Valley.

• Kishtwar’s location on a traditional militant transit route highlights its strategic importance.

• Use of aerial surveillance, sniffer dogs, and human intelligence reflects an evolving, technology-enabled counter-insurgency strategy.

RANKING AND INDEX

India’s Ranking in Asia Manufacturing Index (AMI) 2026

• India secured 6th position among 11 Asian economies in the Asia Manufacturing Index 2026, reflecting moderate competitiveness.

• The Asia Manufacturing Index evaluates manufacturing strength using a multi-dimensional framework.

• AMI 2026 is the third edition, released by Dezan Shira & Associates, a Hong Kong–based advisory firm.

• The index measures performance across 8 core pillars and 43 sub-parameters, including infrastructure, labour, regulation and supply chains.

• Malaysia emerged as the second-ranked economy, showing major improvement, while Vietnam slipped to third place.

• Among advanced manufacturing hubs, Singapore moved up to fourth, overtaking South Korea, which dropped to fifth.

• India’s ranking highlights gaps in logistics efficiency, industrial infrastructure, and global value-chain integration.

• The outcome underscores the need for faster reforms, stronger industrial clusters, and improved ease of doing business to boost India’s manufacturing ambitions.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Spain Joins Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI)

• Spain has formally acceded to the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative, submitting its Declaration of Accession to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.

• IPOI is a voluntary and non-treaty framework aimed at enhancing practical maritime cooperation among like-minded Indo-Pacific nations.

• The initiative was launched by India in 2019 at the East Asia Summit in Bangkok, rooted in the SAGAR vision.

• It seeks to promote a free, open, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific, without forming military blocs.

• Seven cooperation pillars guide the initiative, covering security, ecology, resources, disaster management, technology, connectivity and capacity building.

• The framework encourages non-military collaboration, focusing on sustainability, maritime domain awareness and resilient infrastructure.

• Member countries can voluntarily lead specific thematic pillars, ensuring flexible and inclusive participation.

• Spain’s entry enhances IPOI’s global credibility, strengthens India’s leadership role, and supports cooperative multilateralism in the Indo-Pacific.

STATE NEWS

Lucknow: Model City for Scientific & Sustainable Waste Management

• Lucknow has emerged as a benchmark city for sustainable urban waste management amid rapid population and economic expansion.

• The city became Uttar Pradesh’s first urban centre to achieve 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste.

• A third waste processing plant at Shivari, with a capacity of 700 tonnes per day, has been commissioned, taking total capacity beyond 2,100 tonnes daily.

• With this achievement, Lucknow has earned the status of a “zero fresh waste dump” city, eliminating open dumping practices.

• Nearly 2,000 tonnes of waste per day is managed through segregation into organic and inorganic components.

• Organic waste is converted into compost and biogas, while inorganic waste is recycled or converted into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for cement and paper industries.

• Door-to-door waste collection exceeds 96%, and source segregation levels are above 70%, strengthening efficiency.

• Legacy waste remediation has reclaimed over 25 acres of land, reducing environmental hazards and creating modern waste-processing infrastructure.

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY

Sunita Williams Retires from NASA After a Historic Spaceflight Career

• Sunita Williams concluded her 27-year journey with NASA, retiring on 27 December 2025 after decades of service in human space exploration.

• NASA described her as a pioneering astronaut and leader, whose work strengthened future missions under the Artemis and Mars exploration programmes.

• She is regarded as one of NASA’s most experienced astronauts, known for long-duration missions and operational excellence aboard the ISS.

• Born in Euclid, Ohio, she traces her roots to Gujarat, India, through her father, while her mother is of Slovenian heritage.

• Her first space mission began in 2006 aboard Space Shuttle Discovery, followed by multiple shuttle and Soyuz missions.

• In 2012, she became Commander of Expedition 33, placing her among the few women to lead the International Space Station.

• Across her career, she completed nine spacewalks, spending over 62 hours outside the ISS, a major milestone in space operations.

• Her final mission aboard Boeing’s Starliner extended to nine months, marking a fitting conclusion to a distinguished spaceflight legacy.