News in Shorts: 21 January 2026

Dolphin Population Survey

Context: The second rangewide population estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins in India was launched from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, under Project Dolphin.

• The first nationwide dolphin population estimates were released by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the National Board for Wildlife meeting in Gir (March 2024) Gujarat.

About the Survey

• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• Nodal Agency: The survey is being coordinated by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Dehradun
• Collaborating Partners: The exercise is being coordinated by the WII, in collaboration with State Forest Departments and conservation partners including WWF India, Aaranyak and the Wildlife Trust of India
• Geographical Coverage:
  • Phase One: Main stem of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and Indus River.
  • Phase Two: Brahmaputra River, Major tributaries of the Ganga, Sundarbans, River systems in Odisha.
• Species Covered:
  • Primary Species: Ganges River Dolphin and Indus River Dolphin
  • New Inclusion: For the first time, the survey will also include the Irrawaddy Dolphin in the Sundarbans and Odisha

Findings from the Previous Survey (2021–2023)

• Population Estimate: Around 6,327 riverine dolphins were recorded.
• Distribution:
  • Ganges River Dolphins in the Ganga, Yamuna, Chambal, Gandak, Ghaghara, Kosi, Mahananda and Brahmaputra systems
    
  • A small population of Indus River Dolphins in the Beas
• High-Concentration States: Uttar Pradesh and Bihar recorded the highest numbers, followed by West Bengal and Assam, highlighting the importance of the Gangetic basin.

About Project Dolphin

• Project Dolphin is a national conservation initiative of the Government of India aimed at the protection and conservation of both riverine and oceanic dolphin species found in Indian waters.
• Launch: 15 August 2020 by PM Narendra Modi
• Duration: The project is envisaged as a long-term 10-year initiative
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)
• Community Participation: The project promotes the involvement of local communities, fishermen, and other stakeholders, recognising their role in reducing human-induced threats and ensuring sustainable conservation outcomes

Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Funding Scheme

Context: The deployment of funding under the Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) fund for industry-backed projects is set to begin by the end of January 2026.

About the Research, Development & Innovation (RDI) Funding

• Purpose: It aims to fund high-risk, high-impact research while fostering collaborations between laboratories, startups, and industry.
• Corpus: The RDI scheme has a corpus of ₹1 lakh crore.
• Launch: The scheme was approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025 and formally launched in November 2025.
• Nodal Ministry: The scheme is implemented by the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Funding Mechanism: Two-Tiered Mechanism:
  • A Special Purpose Fund (SPF) held under the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) custodianship.
  • Second-Level Fund Managers (SLFMs) who allocate funds to projects.
• First Second-Level Fund Managers: The Technology Development Board (TDB) and the Biotechnology Industry Research Assistance Council (BIRAC) have been approved as the first SLFMs under the RDI Fund.
  • Each will receive an initial allocation of ₹2,000 crore in the first quarter (₹4,000 crore total) to begin issuing calls for proposals from startups, companies, and industry.
  • TDB: Projects across all RDI Sunrise and strategic sectors.
  • BIRAC: Projects in biotechnology and allied areas.
• Focus on Industry-Backed Projects & High TRLs: The RDI funding will focus on innovation-driven ventures and projects backed by industry that have crossed Technology Readiness Level (TRL) 4 or higher.
  • High TRL means projects that have moved beyond early proof-of-concept into development and scaling.
• Priority Areas & Objectives: The RDI Scheme is designed to:
  • Encourage private sector participation in research and innovation.
  • Finance transformative technologies and high-impact ventures.
  • Promote strategic sectors such as energy, climate, deep technologies, artificial intelligence (AI), biotechnology, digital economy, and more.
  • Strengthen technology self-reliance and global competitiveness.
• Strategic Oversight: The scheme’s strategic direction is provided by the Governing Board of the Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) (chaired by the Prime Minister).

EV Causing Copper Crunch

Context: Global EV sales rose from 0.55 million (2015) to ~20 million (2025), pushing EV-related copper demand above 1.28 million tonnes.

• Charging infrastructure and grid upgrades further amplify copper consumption beyond vehicles themselves.

EV Influence on Copper Demand

• Electric vehicles require 4–5 times more copper than internal combustion engine vehicles due to batteries, motors, wiring, and power electronics.
• Copper demand elasticity with EV sales has mostly remained above 1, indicating demand growth faster than vehicle adoption.

About Copper

• Copper (Cu) is a critical industrial and strategic metal, indispensable for electrification, renewable energy systems, and modern infrastructure.
• Major Ores: Chalcopyrite (CuFeS₂), Chalcocite (Cu₂S), Bornite, Malachite
• Properties: Excellent electrical and thermal conductivity. 
  • It is highly ductile , malleable, corrosion-resistant and easily recyclable
• Applications
  • Electrical wiring, EV batteries and motors
  • Power grids, transformers, and charging stations
  • Electronics, construction, renewable energy systems
• Global Production 
  • Major producers are Chile, Peru, China, DR Congo and the United States.
  • Chile is the world’s largest copper producer (~27% of global output).
    • Chile hosts the world’s largest mines Escondido and Collahuasi.
• Production in India
  • Major Deposits: Singhbhum (Jharkhand), Balaghat (Madhya Pradesh), Jhunjhunu & Alwar (Rajasthan).
  • Minor Deposits: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu.
  • Largest Producer: Madhya Pradesh is India’s largest copper producer accounting for around 70% of the nation’s copper concentrate production.

Copper has emerged as the backbone of the EV-led energy transition, making resource security, recycling, and innovation central to future decarbonisation efforts.

Central Silk Board

Context: The Ministry of Textiles has enhanced the financial approval limit of the Central Silk Board (CSB) from ₹50 lakh to ₹1 crore.

About Central Silk Board

• Statutory Body:  Established in 1948 by an Act of Parliament (Central Silk Board Act, 1948)
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Textiles
• Headquarters: Bangalore, karnataka
• Mandate: 
  • Research and development in sericulture
  • Technology dissemination
  • Quality improvement
  • Promotion of silk production and exports

Silk Sector in India

• Global Position: India is the second-largest producer of silk in the world and also the largest Consumer of Silk.
• Livelihood Support: Provides employment to about 9.76 million people, mainly in rural and semi-urban areas.
• Production Trends: 41,121 metric tonnes in FY25
  • Mulberry silk accounts for the largest share.
• Major Producing States: Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jammu & Kashmir.
  • Non-mulberry silks are produced in Jharkhand, Chattisgarh, Orissa and north-eastern states.
• Export Performance:
  • Exports in FY25: Silk and silk products worth USD 246 million.
  • Export Basket: Raw silk, silk yarn, fabrics, garments, silk waste and handloom products.
  • Key Export Markets: UAE, United States, China, United Kingdom, Italy, France, Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong and Canada

Types of Silk

• Mulberry Silk
  • Mulberry silk is produced from silkworms that feed exclusively on mulberry leaves. 
  • It is known for its softness, smooth texture, and high natural sheen, making it ideal for luxury sarees and premium textiles. 
  • Nearly 92% of India’s total raw silk production comes from mulberry silk.
• Non-Mulberry Silk
• • Non-mulberry silk, also called Vanya silk, is obtained from wild silkworms that feed on forest trees such as oak, castor, and arjun. 
  • It has a coarse, earthy texture with relatively lower lustre, but is valued for its strength, durability, and eco-friendly nature.

Sagar Maitri

Context: Recently, INS Sagardhwani was flagged off from Kochi for the fifth edition of Sagar Maitri.

• INS Sagardhwani is a specialised marine acoustic research vessel designed by Naval Physical and Oceanographic Laboratory (NPOL) -DRDO, built by GRSE, and commissioned in 1994, serving ocean research for over three decades.

About Sagar Maitri

• Sagar Maitri is a flagship collaborative oceanographic initiative of DRDO and the Indian Navy.
• Aim: Strengthen scientific cooperation among Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) countries.
  • Indian Ocean Rim (IOR) includes 23 member countries.
• Origin: Initiated by DRDO under India’s maritime vision of SAGAR (Security and Growth for All in the Region) in April 2019.
  • The scientific component MAITRI (Marine & Allied Interdisciplinary Training and Research Initiative) was launched to institutionalise long-term ocean research collaboration.
  • Conducted as periodic mission-based initiatives (not strictly annual or biennial).

Sagar Maitri – V (SM-5)

• Sagar Maitri-V marks the fifth edition of the initiative, undertaken using DRDO’s marine acoustic research vessel INS Sagardhwani.
• Objectives
• • To promote joint oceanographic and acoustic research among IOR nations.
  • To build scientific capacity and professional exchange in marine sciences.
  • To collect oceanographic and acoustic data relevant to Underwater Domain Awareness (UDA) of the Indian Navy.
• Participating Countries (8): Eight IOR countries Oman, Maldives, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, and Myanmar.

Significance

• Enhances India’s leadership in maritime science diplomacy.
• Strengthens Underwater Domain Awareness, critical for naval security.
• Aligns with India’s evolving maritime vision of MAHASAGAR (Mutual and Holistic Advancement for Security and Growth Across Regions).

Pratas (Dongsha) Islands

Context: Recently a Chinese reconnaissance drone briefly entered the airspace over Taiwan-controlled Pratas (Dongsha) Islands, escalating tensions in the region.

About Pratas Islands

• The Pratas Islands, also known as Dongsha Islands, are a small group of coral islands forming an atoll in the northern South China Sea.
• Location: It is situated between southern Taiwan and Hong Kong.
• Geography: It comprises three islands forming a circular coral atoll.
  • Dongsha Island is the only island above sea level; the other two are submerged.
  • The atoll is about 24 km in diameter, enclosing a lagoon nearly 16 km wide.
  • Rich in coral reefs, marine biodiversity, and migratory bird habitats.
• Current Administration: Controlled by Taiwan (Republic of China) and administered as Dongsha Atoll National Park.
  • It has no permanent civilian population, the  Taiwanese marines are stationed on the island.
  • It is claimed by the People’s Republic of China making it a point of contention.
• Strategic Significance: It occupies a critical position at the northern edge of the South China Sea close to vital shipping lanes linking the Pacific and Indian Oceans.
  • It is considered strategically vulnerable due to its distance from mainland Taiwan, making it significant in cross-Strait and South China Sea security dynamics.

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