News in Shorts: 20 January 2026

Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a Hub for Blue Economy

Context: Recently, the Union Government reaffirmed its commitment to develop the Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a major hub of India’s Blue Economy.

About Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project

• India launched its first open-sea marine fish farming project at North Bay, Andaman Sea, marking a major step towards harnessing ocean resources under the Blue Economy vision.
• Objectives
  • Unlock the economic potential of India’s oceans
  • Promote sustainable marine aquaculture and coastal livelihoods
  • Integrate scientific innovation with community-based fisheries
• Key Features
  • Implemented by the Ministry of Earth Sciences, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and Andaman & Nicobar UT Administration
  • Uses NIOT-developed open-sea cages for finfish cultivation in natural ocean conditions
  • Includes open-sea seaweed farming through seed distribution to local fishers
  • Designed for scalability through future public–private participation models

Andaman & Nicobar Islands as a Hub for Blue Economy

• The Andaman & Nicobar Islands occupy a strategic maritime location and possess rich marine biodiversity, making them central to India’s emerging Blue Economy strategy. 
• Vision: To integrate ocean science, marine technology, and biotechnology to generate economic growth, employment, and environmental sustainability.
• Potential: The islands have significant potential for employment generation, export-oriented marine products, waste-to-wealth technologies, and alternative marine-based nutrition. 
  • Enhanced participation of Self-Help Groups and women can strengthen household incomes while advancing the “Vocal for Local, Local for Global” vision. 

Collectively, these initiatives can transform the Andaman & Nicobar Islands into a sustainable and resilient Blue Economy hub.

About Andaman and Nicobar Islands

• The Andaman and Nicobar Islands are a Union Territory of India, known for their strategic location, rich marine biodiversity, and ecological significance.
• Location: They are situated in the Bay of Bengal, southeast of the Indian mainland, closer to Southeast Asia, and separated by the Ten Degree Channel.
  • 6 Degree Channel Separates the Nicobar Islands from Sumatra (Indonesia).
• Key Features: The islands comprise about 572 islands, have dense tropical forests, coral reefs, and form a crucial part of India’s maritime security and Exclusive Economic Zone.
• Conservation Sites
  • Mahatma Gandhi Marine National Park – South Andaman Island
  • Rani Jhansi Marine National Park – Ritchie’s Archipelago
  • Campbell Bay National Park – Great Nicobar Island
  • Galathea National Park – Great Nicobar Island

Bagurumba Dwhou 2026

Context: Recently, the Indian Prime Minister addressed the Bagurumba Dwhou 2026, at Sarusajai Stadium, Guwahati, Assam.

• The event saw a mass synchronized Bagurumba dance by 10,000+ Bodo artists from 81 Assembly constituencies across 23 districts of Assam.
• Held alongside Silpi Divas (death anniversary of Jyoti Prasad Agarwala), the celebration symbolised the “Peace Era” ushered in after the 2020 Bodo Peace Accord.

About Bagurumba Dwhou

• Refers: The term “Dwhou” translates to “Wave” in the Bodo language, representing a massive surge of cultural pride and identity.
• Community & Origin: It is the traditional folk dance of the Bodo tribe, the largest ethno-linguistic group in Assam. 
  • The dance is an artistic reflection of their agrarian culture and a nature-centric worldview.
• Performers & Style: 
  • Performed primarily by Bodo women in groups, it is marked by slow, graceful movements and synchronized steps. 
  • The delicate hand gestures are inspired by butterflies (often called the “Butterfly Dance”), as well as birds, rivers, and swaying crops.
• Occasion: It is closely associated with the Bwisagu Festival, which celebrates the Bodo New Year and the arrival of spring. 
• Symbolism: It symbolises renewal, fertility, and harmony with the natural world.
• Music & Instruments: The performance is a medium of cultural transmission across generations, accompanied by traditional instruments:
  • Kham: A traditional long drum.
  • Siphung: A unique five-holed bamboo flute.
  • Serja: A bowed, violin-like string instrument.
  • Jotha & Gongwna: Cymbals and a jaw harp.

Policy Landmarks for Bodo Identity

• Language Status: Bodo recognized as an associate official language of Assam in 2020 and included in the Eighth Schedule of the Constitution.
• Governance & Education: Establishment of the Bodo-Kachari Welfare Autonomous Council and a dedicated Bodoland Administrative Staff College.
  • Creation of a separate Directorate for Bodo Medium Education to strengthen indigenous learning.

European Union (EU) Anti-Coercion Instrument

Context: Amid a Greenland-related dispute, the European Union is considering activating its Anti-Coercion Instrument after Donald Trump threatened tariffs on EU members.

About EU Anti-Coercion Instrument (ACI) or ‘Bazooka’

• Legal Basis: ACI is an EU regulation adopted in 2023 to counter economic coercion by third countries against the or its member states.
• What is Coercion: Use or threat of trade, investment or financial measures to force policy change by the EU or a member state.
• Primary Objective: Deterrence first, the EU prioritises dialogue and de-escalation before retaliation.
• Decision Process: European Commission investigates; EU Council confirms coercion by qualified majority (not unanimity).
• Available Counter-Measures: If activated, the EU can impose strong counter-measures, including:
  • Higher tariffs or import restrictions
  • New taxes (including on tech companies)
  • Limits on investment flows
  • Restricting access to the EU single market
  • Barring foreign firms from public procurement
• Features: 
  • Targeted & Reversible: Measures must be proportionate, targeted, and withdrawn once coercion stops.
  • Trade Bazooka: It denotes the EU’s most powerful trade retaliation tool to counter economic coercion by third countries.
  • Status: It has never been used before. Activation of ACI would mark a major escalation.

Hope Island

Context: Andhra Pradesh Government has announced a plan to develop a satellite launching facility as part of an ambitious Space City project at Hope Island.

About Hope Island

• Geographical Location: Hope Island is located in Kakinada Bay, Andhra Pradesh, at the mouth of the Godavari estuary in Bay Bengal.
  • It lies over 600 km away from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota, the main launch site of Indian Space Research Organisation.
• Formation: It was naturally formed about a century ago due to sediment deposition by the Godavari River.
• Disaster Protection Role: The island acts as a natural barrier against cyclones, storm surges, and coastal erosion, protecting Kakinada city and nearby coastal areas.
• Ecological Significance: Hope Island is part of the Coringa Wildlife Sanctuary, one of India’s largest mangrove ecosystems.
• Biodiversity Hotspot: It serves as a wintering ground for 42 species of migratory birds and a breeding site for Olive Ridley turtles.
• Navigation & Ports: Hope Island provides a safe navigational channel facilitating operations of Kakinada Anchorage Port and Kakinada Deep-Sea Port.
• Strategic & Developmental Importance: Located opposite the Eastern Naval Command base on the mainland.  
  • The island has gained prominence due to the proposed Space City and satellite launch facility, raising both strategic and environmental considerations.

SKOCH Award 2025

Context: C-DOT received the SKOCH Award 2025 for its indigenous Cell Broadcast Solution, recognising its role in strengthening India’s disaster and emergency communication framework.

About the SKOCH Award

• Introduction: The SKOCH Award honours excellence in governance, technology-led development, and public service delivery across India.
• Organised by: SKOCH Group, a leading policy think tank focusing on socio-economic reforms and inclusive growth.
  • It was instituted in 2003 by the SKOCH Group.
• Criteria: Awards are given for impactful initiatives in technology, finance, health, education, governance, and citizen-centric service delivery.
• SKOCH Award 2025: Conferred during the 104th SKOCH Summit themed “Resourcing Viksit Bharat”, recognising projects that enhance national development and resilience.

About C-DOT’s Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS)

• C-DOT’s Cell Broadcast Solution is an indigenous disaster and emergency alert platform enabling near real-time dissemination of life-saving information through mobile networks.

Features of CBS

• Automated integration between government alert systems and telecom networks
• Supports 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G technologies
• Enables geo-targeted, multi-hazard alerts
• Supports communication in 21 Indian languages
• Integrates multiple alert-generating agencies such as:
  • India Meteorological Department (weather events)
  • Central Water Commission (floods)
  • Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (tsunamis)
  • Defence Geo-informatics Research Establishment (landslides)
  • Forest Survey of India (forest fires)
• Connects mobile service providers, State Disaster Management Authorities, and the National Disaster Management Authority through a unified approval and delivery system

Past Awardees & Lifetime Achievement Awardees

• Nandan Nilekani (2013) – Imagining India.
• Montek Singh Ahluwalia (2011) – Growth Maker.
• C Rangarajan (2010) – Philosopher King.
• Deepak Parekh (2014) – Growth Turnpike.
• Nitin Gadkari (2018) – Challenging Poverty.
• M Venkaiah Naidu (2016) – A View from the Inside.

Significance

• Enhances disaster risk reduction through timely, targeted communication
• Improves public safety, especially in remote and vulnerable regions
• Aligns with United Nations’ Early Warnings for All programme and International Telecommunication Union’s Common Alerting Protocol
• Contributes to Sustainable Development Goals and Aatmanirbhar Bharat, positioning India among global leaders in emergency alert technologies.

Semmozhi Literary Award

Context: Recently, Tamil Nadu launched the Semmozhi Literary Award amid concerns over political interference in the Sahitya Akademi Awards process.

About the Semmozhi National Literary Award

• It is an annual state-instituted national-level literary honour.
• Languages (Phase I): Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Bengali, Marathi.
• Selection Process: Independent language-wise juries with no political or bureaucratic interference.
• Award Components : ₹5 lakh for each selected literary work.
• Vision: promote creative freedom, linguistic diversity, and excellence in Indian literature.

About the Sahitya Akademi Award

• The Sahitya Akademi Award is a prestigious national literary honour that recognises outstanding contributions to Indian literature across genres such as poetry, novels, plays, essays, and short stories.
• Language Categories: 
  • 22 languages listed in the Eighth Schedule.
  • Plus English and Rajasthani, 
  • includes translated works of Indian literature.

International Dugong Conservation Centre

Context: The Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change’s Expert Appraisal Committee directed Tamil Nadu to revise the Manora Dugong Conservation Centre design due to ecological sensitivity of the coastal zone.

International Dugong Conservation Centre, Manora (Thanjavur)

• The proposed International Dugong Conservation Centre is a ₹40.94-crore project planned at Manora, Thanjavur district, within ecologically sensitive Coastal Regulation Zone areas.
• Objectives
  • Conservation of dugongs and protection of seagrass ecosystems
  • Research, rescue, and rehabilitation of injured marine mammals
  • Public awareness and marine biodiversity education
• Environmental Concerns
  • Nearly 22,000 sq. m of the project lies in CRZ-III No Development Zone and overlaps CRZ-I areas with mangroves and seagrass meadows
  • The Expert Appraisal Committee flagged excessive use of concrete structures
  • Recommended low-impact, eco-friendly construction, prefabricated materials, and relocation of structures outside the No Development Zone

About Dugong (Dugong dugon)

• The dugong is a large, slow-moving marine mammal, commonly called the “sea cow,” and is the only strictly marine herbivorous mammal.
• Habitat: Found in warm, shallow coastal waters of the Indian and western Pacific Oceans.
• Ecological Role: 
  • Feeds exclusively on seagrass, acting as a keystone species
  • Inhabits seagrass meadows, lagoons, estuaries, and nearshore areas
  • Plays the role of an ecosystem engineer, aiding seagrass regeneration and marine biodiversity
• Conservation Status
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972: Schedule I (highest protection)
  •  CITES: Appendix I

The project underscores India’s marine conservation commitment but highlights the need to balance infrastructure with fragile coastal ecosystems.

Sukhatme National Award in Statistics

Context: Nominations for Sukhatme National Award in Statistics 2026 have been invited online via the National Awards Portal.

About Sukhatme National Award in Statistics

• The Sukhatme National Award in Statistics is a prestigious national honour instituted in memory of Prof. P. V. Sukhatme.
  • Prof. P. V. Sukhatme  is known for his pioneering work of applying random sampling methods in agricultural statistics and in biometry
  • For his outstanding contributions to Science and Human Welfare, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan by the President of India in 1973.
• Organised By: Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MoSPI), Government of India.
• Period: It is awarded once every two years (biennial) since 2000.
• Award Ceremony: Presented on Statistics Day (29 June), commemorating the birth anniversary of Prof. P. V. Sukhatme.
• Eligibility: 
  • Eminent Indian statisticians for lifetime contributions in the field of statistics.
  • Open to statisticians aged 45 years and above.
  • Posthumous award permissible if the nominee has passed away within one year.
• Nomination Process: Applications are submitted through the National Awards Portal (awards.gov.in).
  • Self-nomination is allowed.
  • Nominations may also be proposed by institutions.
• Award Components: A citation, shawl, and memento.
  • The awardee delivers a special lecture/session highlighting the significance of their work.

Significance

• The award promotes excellence in statistical research, strengthens evidence-based policymaking, and honours contributions vital for planning, governance, and socio-economic development.

DOWNLOAD PDF