News in Shorts: 30 January 2026

Hoya nagaensis

Context: Researchers from Nagaland University have discovered a new plant species, Hoya nagaensis, in a community-protected high-altitude forest of Nagaland.

About Hoya nagaensis

• Hoya nagaensis is a newly identified flowering plant species discovered in the Kavünhou Community Reserved Forest, Phek district, Nagaland, highlighting the region’s rich but underexplored biodiversity.
• Features
  • Exhibits distinctive leaf morphology and floral structures, clearly differentiating it from known Hoya species.
  • Produces star-shaped, waxy flowers and exudes milky latex, typical of the Apocynaceae family.
  • Found in temperate, high-altitude forest ecosystems, rarely documented scientifically.
• Significance
  • Reinforces Northeast India as a biodiversity hotspot, especially within the Eastern Himalaya.
  • Demonstrates the conservation value of community-managed forests.
  • Published in Kew Bulletin, contributing to global plant taxonomy and conservation science.
• Threats to the Species
  • Extremely restricted distribution, known from only a single location.
  • Shifting cultivation (jhum) and forest disturbance, leading to its provisional classification as Critically Endangered.

About the Hoya Genus

• Hoya, commonly known as wax plants, is a genus valued for ornamental flowers and ecological diversity.
• Key Features: Star-shaped, wax-like flowers with climbing or trailing growth habit.
• Native Range: Native to Southeast Asia, Australia, and Polynesia.
• Vegetation: Typically found in tropical and subtropical forest vegetation, often as epiphytes.

Justice Gita Mittal Committee

Context: The Supreme Court has extended the Justice Gita Mittal Committee’s mandate till 31 July 2026 to regularise its continuation and ensure continuity in victim support in Manipur. 

About Justice Gita Mittal Committee

• Constituted By: The Supreme Court of India in August 2023 following severe ethnic clashes in Manipur involving Meitei and Kuki communities. 
• Composition: It is an all-women committee of three retired High Court judges:
  • Chairperson: Justice Gita Mittal
  • Members: Justice Shalini Phansalkar Joshi and Justice Asha Menon
• Mandate: To monitor relief, rehabilitation, compensation and humanitarian measures for victims of the ethnic violence in Manipur that erupted in May 2023. 
• Reports: The committee has been submitting periodic reports to the Supreme Court.
• Tenure: The committee’s initial tenure formally ended in July 2025, but it continued its work.

Over Half of India’s Major Deltas Are Sinking

Context: A new global study published in Nature has  found that several major Indian river deltas are sinking faster than sea levels are rising, significantly increasing flood risks.

About River Deltas

• River deltas are low-lying areas where rivers meet the sea. 
• They support huge populations, agriculture, fisheries, ports, and trade—but they are fragile and vulnerable to sinking land (subsidence), rising seas, and other pressures.
• Deltas cover only 1% of Earth’s land but support 350–500 million people (nearly 6% of global population), including 10 megacities.

Key Indian Deltas Affected

• Ganga-Brahmaputra (shared with Bangladesh): Widespread subsidence affecting over 90% of the area; Kolkata is notably sinking.
• Brahmani: One of the fastest-sinking; 77% of the area subsiding, with large portions >5 mm/year.
• Mahanadi: Also among the fastest; 69% of the area subsiding, with large portions >5 mm/year.
• Godavari: Significant subsidence, outpacing sea-level rise in parts.
• Cauvery and Kabani: Experiencing notable land sinking.

Main Causes of Sinking of Deltas

• Excessive groundwater extraction: The primary driver in many deltas, including Ganga-Brahmaputra and Cauvery. 
  • Pumping for agriculture, industry, and domestic use depletes aquifers faster than recharge, causing sediments to compact irreversibly.
• Reduced sediment supply: Dams, levees, and river regulation block natural silt deposition (e.g., in Mahanadi and Kabani), preventing deltas from building up elevation.
• Other factors: Urbanization, land-use changes, and population pressure add weight and accelerate sinking.

India Develops High-Voltage Supercapacitor

Context: Indian researchers have achieved a major breakthrough in energy storage, developing a supercapacitor capable of operating at 3.4 volts, well above the conventional 2.5–3.0 V limit.

About the News

• The innovation was developed by the International Advanced Research Centre for Powder Metallurgy and New Materials (ARCI).
  • ARCI is an autonomous institute under the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• The research, published in the Chemical Engineering Journal, was supported by DST’s Technical Research Centre (TRC) initiative. 
• It promises better performance for electric vehicles (EVs), renewable energy systems, grid storage, and portable electronics.

About ARCI High-Voltage Supercapacitor

• Record High Operating Voltage: Operates safely at 3.4 V, surpassing the conventional 2.5–3.0 V limit, enabling higher energy storage per cell.
• Superior Performance & Durability: Delivers 33% higher energy density, power density up to 17,000 W/kg, and retains 96% capacity after 15,000 cycles.
• Advanced PGCN Electrode Technology: Uses a porous graphene carbon nanocomposite electrode with water-repellent and electrolyte-compatible properties for stable high-voltage operation.
• Wide Applications & Strategic Impact: Ideal for electric vehicles, renewable energy systems, grid storage, and portable electronics, supporting India’s clean energy and self-reliance goals.

What Are Supercapacitors?

• Supercapacitors are energy storage devices that store and release electrical energy much faster than batteries, while offering a longer cycle life.
• They are ideal for applications needing rapid power delivery (EVs, renewables, grid stabilization), but limited by lower energy density compared to batteries.
• Unlike batteries (which store energy via chemical reactions), supercapacitors store energy mainly through:
  • Electrostatic charge accumulation at the electrode–electrolyte interface.
  • This forms an Electric Double Layer (EDLC), enabling rapid charge and discharge

PANCHAM Digital Chatbot

Context: The Ministry of Panchayati Raj has launched PANCHAM chatbot to make life easier for village panchayats across India.

About the PANCHAM Digital Chatbot

• Full Form: PANCHAM stands for Panchayat Assistance and Messaging Chatbot.
• Launched by: Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) and developed in partnership with UNICEF.
• Platform: WhatsApp-based AI chatbot.
• Primary Purpose: Acts as a digital companion for Panchayat Elected Representatives (e.g., Sarpanches, ward members), officials, and functionaries at the grassroots level.
• Objectives: Strengthens responsive, transparent, and accountable grassroots governance, empowers rural local bodies, improves service delivery, and bridges information gaps at the village level.
• Key Features & Benefits:
• • Two-way communication: Representatives can ask questions and send feedback; the Ministry can broadcast updates. 
  • 22 Indian languages: Integrated with the BHASHINI platform for multilingual support. 
  • Voice & text guidance: Provides contextual help, real-time info on schemes and workflows. 
  • Training support: Sends short videos and guidance modules on governance tasks. 
  • Direct official updates: Circulars, advisories, and policy messages are delivered clearly and quickly.

Tiger In Gujrat

Context: After 33 years, Gujarat has regained its tiger-bearing status with the presence of a Royal Bengal Tiger in the Ratanmahal–Jambughoda forest corridor.

• The Ratanmahal–Jambughoda forest corridor is a vital ecological link in Central Gujarat, connecting the Ratanmahal Sloth Bear Sanctuary (Dahod) and Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary (Panchmahal).
• This 30–60 km corridor enables the movement of sloth bears, leopards, and other wildlife between protected habitats, essential for their survival in a fragmented landscape.

Efforts to Support Tiger Population in Gujarat

• Strengthening Prey Base: Gujarat has established a Herbivore Breeding Centre near Jambughoda to breed and release chital and sambar, ensuring adequate prey and reducing human–tiger conflict.
• Habitat Management & Monitoring: Dense forest corridors, waterholes, natural caves, and continuous camera-trap surveillance are being maintained to support tiger movement and security.
• Long-term Population Planning: The State has approached the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) to facilitate the introduction of a female tiger, aiming to establish a viable breeding population.

Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary

• Jambughoda Wildlife Sanctuary is located in Panchmahal district of central Gujarat, forming part of the ecologically rich Ratanmahal–Kanjeta–Kevdi forest corridor.
• Ecological Significance
  • Characterised by teak, bamboo, and mahua forests, hilly terrain, and reservoirs like the Kada dam.
  • Supports diverse fauna such as leopards, sloth bears, nilgai, wild boar, and now a tiger.
• Conservation Initiatives
  • Development of water sources, fruit-bearing plantations, and natural shelters.
  • Measures to mitigate threats such as road crossings and habitat fragmentation.

About Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary

• Ratanmahal Wildlife Sanctuary is ecologically significant for its dense forests, rugged terrain, and high concentration of sloth bears, making it a key wildlife habitat in Gujarat.
• Location: The sanctuary is located in Dahod district of central Gujarat, near Baria and Chhota Udepur, along the Gujarat–Madhya Pradesh border.
• Vegetation: It comprises dry teak forests at foothills, mixed deciduous forests, dry bamboo brakes, and pure patches of timru and sadad trees.
• Wildlife: Ratanmahal hosts Gujarat’s largest population of sloth bears and also supports a substantial population of leopards.
• Focused Conservation: Abundant mahuda and jamun trees provide critical food resources, making the sanctuary ideal for studying sloth bear behaviour.
• Ecological Significance: The forests form the catchment of the Panam River, supporting water conservation and irrigation needs in central Gujarat.

The tiger’s continued presence highlights Gujarat’s improving habitat quality and marks a milestone in landscape-level conservation beyond traditional tiger reserves.

Green Hydrogen Hub

Context: India is developing a Green Hydrogen Hub at Kandla Port under the National Green Hydrogen Mission to support clean energy transition and maritime decarbonisation.

About Green Hydrogen Hub

• A Green Hydrogen Hub is a localized, integrated ecosystem that combines green hydrogen production, storage, distribution, and end-use to lower costs and accelerate industrial decarbonisation.
  • Green Hydrogen as hydrogen produced via electrolysis using renewable energy or through biomass conversion, with a well-to-gate emission limit not exceeding 2 kg 𝐶𝑂2 equivalent per kg 𝐻2.
  • This threshold includes water treatment, electrolysis, gas purification, drying, and compression, with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) as the nodal authority for monitoring. 
• Location: The proposed hub will be developed at Deendayal Port Authority (Kandla), Gujarat, leveraging port infrastructure for large-scale production, domestic use, and export of green hydrogen and derivatives.
• Key Features
  • Integrated Green Molecules Ecosystem: Production of green hydrogen, green methanol, and green ammonia using renewable energy.
  • Port-led Infrastructure: Utilises existing port logistics, deep-sea connectivity, and storage facilities to reduce transportation and handling costs.
  • Public–Industry Collaboration: Partnership between Deendayal Port Authority and Assam Petro-Chemicals Limited (APL) to transition from conventional to green methanol production.
• Significance
  • Energy Transition & Climate Goals: Supports India’s target of producing 5 million tonnes of green hydrogen and achieving net-zero emissions by 2070.
  • Maritime Decarbonisation: Enables adoption of alternative marine fuels, aligning with Harit Sagar–Green Port Guidelines and reducing emissions from ports and shipping.
  • Economic & Strategic Benefits: Boosts port-led industrialisation, reduces fossil fuel imports, strengthens Aatmanirbhar Bharat, and positions India as a global hub for green fuels and trade.

The Kandla Hydrogen Hub marks a strategic shift towards port-centric clean energy ecosystems, integrating industry, logistics, and sustainability in India’s green growth pathway.

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