News in Shorts: 13 January 2026

Exercise Sanjha Shakti

Context: Recently, Exercise Sanjha Shakti was conducted to enhance civil–military coordination for responding to complex security and emergency situations.

About Exercise Sanjha Shakti

• Type: It is a joint Military–Civil Fusion (MCF) exercise.
• conducted by: the Indian Army 
• Purpose: To strengthen operational synergy between the armed forces and civilian agencies.
• Venue: Dighi Hills Range, Khadki Military Station, Pune,.
• Participants: Indian Army and 16 key civilian agencies, including the Maharashtra Police, Force One commandos, fire and emergency services, and other state agencies.
• Objectives
• • To enhance interoperability and coordination between civil and military stakeholders.
  • To test communication protocols, standard operating procedures, and decision-making mechanisms.

To improve rapid response capabilities in complex security and disaster scenarios through realistic simulations.

Bargi Dam

Context: The National Dam Safety Authority (NDSA) has issued a show-cause notice to the Narmada Valley Development Authority (NVDA) over  serious safety lapses at the Bargi Dam in Madhya Pradesh.

About Bargi Dam

• Bargi Dam (also known as Rani Avanti Bai Sagar Project) is a major multipurpose dam on the Narmada River.
• Location:  Bargi village in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh.
• Structural Type: It is a composite concrete gravity dam.
  • It is a combination of masonry (concrete) and earthen dam structures.
• Completion: Construction completed in 1990; one of the earliest projects under the Narmada basin development.
• Purpose: Multipurpose project; irrigation, hydroelectric power, flood moderation, and water supply.
• Reservoir: Forms the Bargi Reservoir, an important source of fisheries and local livelihoods.
• Associated Major Irrigation Projects:
  • Bargi Diversion Project (a trans-valley/inter-basin project with a main canal,  for irrigation.  
  • Rani Avantibai Lodhi Sagar Project (direct irrigation via left and right bank canals).

Orobanche aegyptiaca

Context: Mustard farmers in Rajasthan and Haryana face rising yield losses due to Orobanche infestation.

About Orobanche aegyptiaca

• Nature: Orobanche is a parasitic weed that lacks chlorophyll and depends entirely on host crops like mustard for nutrients and water.
• Native of: Mediterranean–West Asian region
  • It has adapted well to Indian agro-climatic conditions, especially in north-west India.
• Key Concerns regarding Orobanche aegyptiaca
  • Undetectable Early Infestation: 
    • Remains underground during initial stages, 
    • Attaches to mustard roots within 30–40 days of sowing, causing damage before visible detection.
  • Herbicides Tolerant : 
    • Low-dose glyphosate sprays fail to control Orobanche, while higher doses risk destroying the crop due to non-selective action.
  • Soil Seed Bank: 
    • Each Orobanche plant produces thousands of seeds.
    • Seeds remain viable for up to 20 years, making eradication difficult.
  • Impact on Crop Productivity: By diverting nutrients, carbon, and water, Orobanche causes wilting, stunted growth, and yield losses of 30–50%.

Ways to Control

• Herbicide-resistant mustard hybrids (imidazolinone-tolerant)
• Crop rotation to break the weed cycle
• Integrated Weed Management (IWM) combining agronomic and chemical methods

Bhairav Battalions

Context: For the first time, the Bhairav Battalions will participate in the 78th Army Day Parade on January 15, 2026, in Jaipur, Rajasthan

About the Bhairav Battalions

• Type: Light Commando, Special Forces-type battalions raised in 2025 as part of Army modernization.
• Name Origin: Named after Bhairav (fierce form of Lord Shiva), symbolizing protection and destruction.
• Purpose and Role: 
  • To handle hybrid warfare, rapid response, and technology-driven operations. 
  • Fills the gap between elite Para Special Forces (deep strategic missions) and regular infantry.
  • Designed for immediate, high-speed offensive actions with short-notice deployment (“fight tonight”), focusing on tactical to operational depth missions.
• Structure and Composition:
  • Size: Compact units of ~200–250 soldiers each (much smaller than standard ~800-strong infantry battalions).
  • Composition: Integrated all-arms personnel from infantry, artillery, signals, air defence, etc.
• Technology and Equipment:
  • Heavily equipped for unmanned warfare, surveillance drones, loitering munitions, electronic warfare tools, Javelin Missiles etc.
  • Part of Army’s push with over 1 lakh drone operatives across the force.
• Current Status: 15 battalions raised and deployed along sensitive borders (Rajasthan/desert, Jammu, Ladakh, Northeast, etc.).
  • Further plans to expand to 25 battalions soon.

Shaksgam Valley

Context: Recently, India rejected China’s attempts to alter ground realities in the Shaksgam Valley.

India reiterated its sovereignty claims and reserving the right to safeguard national interests.

Key Highlights of the Dispute

• Origin: The dispute originates from the 1963 China–Pakistan Boundary Agreement, under which Pakistan illegally ceded the Shaksgam Valley to China.

India has never recognised this agreement.About Shaksgam Valley

• Shaksgam Valley, also known as the Trans-Karakoram Tract, is a territory claimed by India but currently under Chinese control following Pakistan’s unlawful transfer.
• Location: Lies north of the Karakoram Range in the Ladakh region.
• Geography:  It is characterised by high-altitude terrain, glaciers, and extreme climatic conditions

Strategic Significance

• Provides China strategic depth near the Line of Actual Control (LAC)
• Enhances China–Pakistan military and logistical coordination.
• Acts as a critical link supporting the CPEC. It forms part of the larger Karakoram–Xinjiang corridor reinforcing the two-front challenge from China and Pakistan
  • Karakoram–Xinjiang corridor refers to the strategic route connecting China’s Xinjiang region with Pakistan, centered around the Karakoram Highway (KKH).

Personality Rights

Context: Recently Actor Kamal Haasan has approached the Madras High Court seeking protection of his personality rights against unauthorised commercial and AI-based exploitation of his name, image, initials and other attributes through a John Doe suit.

• A John Doe lawsuit is a legal action filed against an unknown or anonymous party (the “John Doe”) to stop harmful activity, like online defamation or intellectual property theft to discover the real identity of the wrongdoer using court-ordered subpoenas to Internet Service Providers (ISPs) or platforms.

About Personality Rights

• Personality rights are legal protections over an individual’s name, image, likeness, voice, signature and other identifiable attributes, preventing their unauthorised commercial exploitation or misrepresentation.
• Constitutional Provision: Personality rights in India are derived from Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life, privacy and human dignity. Courts have consistently held that control over one’s identity is intrinsic to personal liberty.

Bhadrakali Temple Inscription

Context: The Bhadrakali Temple Inscription from Prabhas Patan (near Somnath, Gujarat) chronicles the timeless legacy of the Somnath Temple and highlights Kumarapala’s role in its revival.

About the Bhadrakali Temple Inscription

• Location: Embedded in the wall of an ancient Bhadrakali Temple in Prabhas Patan near Somnath, Gujarat. 
• Date: Carved in 1169 CE.
• Protection: Under the Gujarat State Department of Archaeology.
• Type and Dedication: It serves as a prashasti (eulogy) for Acharya Bhavabrihaspati, the spiritual guru of the Solanki (Chaulukya) King Kumarapala.
• Historical Content: Records the ancient and medieval history of the Somnath Temple. It poetically describes the temple’s construction across the four yugas:
  • Satya Yuga: Built by Chandra (Soma) in gold.
  • Treta Yuga: Built by Ravana in silver.
  • Dvapara Yuga: Built by Lord Shri Krishna in wood.
  • Kali Yuga: Built as a beautiful stone temple by King Bhimdev Solanki (fourth version on earlier remains).
• Kumarapala’s Role: Kumarapala constructed the fifth temple in 1169 CE at the same site, inspired by his guru Bhava Brihaspati. 
• Significance: 
  • Highlights Prabhas Patan’s flourishing as a center of religion, architecture, and literature under Solanki rule.

Kumarapala (1143–1172 CE)

• Kumarapala was a prominent ruler of the Chaulukya (Solanki) dynasty in Gujarat. 
• Capital: He ruled from his capital Anahilapataka (modern Patan) and presided over a period considered part of Gujarat’s Golden Age.
• Ascension: Ascended the throne after Siddharaja’s death (around 1143 CE).
• Somnath Temple: Constructed in 1169 CE under Kumarapala’s patronage. 
• Death and Succession: He died around 1172 CE, succeeded by his son Ajayapala.

Aralam Wildlife Butterfly Sanctuary

Context: Kerala has officially renamed Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary,.

It is now the State’s first protected area dedicated to butterfly conservation.

About Aralam Wildlife Butterfly Sanctuary

• Aralam Wildlife Butterfly Sanctuary, declared originally in 1984 and renamed in 2025, is a biodiversity-rich protected area recognised for its exceptional butterfly diversity and seasonal mass migrations.
• Location: The sanctuary is located in Kannur district of Kerala.
  • It shares boundaries with the Brahmagiri Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka), Kottiyoor Wildlife Sanctuary, and the North Wayanad forest division, forming part of a larger Western Ghats ecological landscape.
• River: The Cheenkanni River, originating from the Brahmagiri ranges, flows through the sanctuary and enhances habitat richness.
• Vegetation: Aralam comprises evergreen and semi-evergreen forests, providing ideal microhabitats for insects, mammals, and birds.
• Butterfly Species: Over 266 butterfly species, accounting for more than 80% of Kerala’s butterfly diversity, have been recorded here.
  • It hosts many endemic and rare butterflies, including the Southern Birdwing (Troides minos), Malabar Banded Peacock (Papilio buddha), and Travancore Evening Brown (RagadiaCritica), alongside migratory species.
  • It is  a hotspot for conservation, with efforts focusing on the endemic Malabar Rose and Malabar Raven.
• Animals: Apart from butterflies, the sanctuary supports elephants, leopards, giant squirrels, diverse bird species, and is a special habitat of the Schedule I Slender Loris.

Other Butterfly Protection Areas of India.

• Bannerghatta Biological Park (Karnataka): India’s first butterfly Protection region (2006), featuring a conservatory, museum, research lab, and garden.
• Sikkim Butterfly Reserve Park (Sikkim): Sikkim’s unique geography, boasting significant butterfly diversity.
• Asola Bhatti Wildlife Sanctuary (New Delhi): Features a Butterfly Park with trails, wildflowers, and an insect house.
• Tropical Butterfly Conservatory (Trichy, Tamil Nadu): A natural habitat for various butterfly species.
• Butterfly Conservatory of Goa (Goa): A popular destination for butterfly lovers.
• Ovalekar Wadi Butterfly Garden (Thane, Maharashtra): A well-known butterfly garden near Mumbai.

Significance: The renaming strengthens species-specific conservation, promotes ecological research, and highlights Aralam’s role in safeguarding pollinators critical for forest and agricultural ecosystems.

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