News in Shorts: 23 January 2026

Parakram Diwas

Context: Recently , the Prime Minister  paid tribute to Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose on Parakram Diwas 2026 celebrating  his 129th Birth Anniversary.

• Parakram Diwas is celebrated every year on his birth anniversary on 23 January.

About Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose

• Subhash Chandra Bose (1897–1945) was one of the most assertive leaders of India’s freedom struggle, advocating complete independence through revolutionary and military means.
• Early Life and Education: Born on 23 January 1897 in Cuttack (Odisha) to Janakinath Bose and Prabhabati Dutt, Bose was educated at Ravenshaw Collegiate School and Presidency College, Kolkata.
  • He later went to Cambridge University, cleared the Indian Civil Services (ICS) exam in 1920, but resigned in 1921, inspired by nationalism and the Jallianwala Bagh massacre.
• Contribution to Freedom Struggle: Bose believed that freedom could not be achieved through constitutional means alone. 
  • His slogan “Give me blood, and I will give you freedom” captured his revolutionary zeal. He sought international alliances and armed resistance to overthrow British rule.

Role in Indian National Congress (INC)

• Participation: Joined the INC in 1921, worked closely with Chittaranjan Das, participated in the Non-Cooperation Movement, and emerged as a prominent youth leader.
• Presidentship: Elected Congress President at Haripura (1938) and re-elected at Tripuri (1939), where he advocated economic planning and radical action.
• Tripuri Crisis: Differences with Gandhian leadership over strategy and authority led to Bose’s resignation from the Congress presidency in 1939.
  • Dr. Rajendra Prasad was appointed to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the term.
• Political Party: Founded the Forward Bloc (1939) to unite radical nationalist forces demanding immediate independence.
• Role in Indian National Army (INA): Took command of the INA in 1943 reorganising it as Azad Hind Fauj.
  • The foundation of the Azad Hind Fauj (Indian National Army – INA) was laid by Captain Mohan Singh in 1942 from Indian prisoners of war in Malaya.
• India Liberation : He established the Provisional Government of Free India (Azad Hind Sarkar) in Singapore on October 21, 1943, as a government-in-exile during World War II, with support from Japan and other Axis powers
  • As Head of the Provisional Government, Bose declared war on Britain in 1943 and proclaimed the Andaman and Nicobar Islands as liberated Indian territory.
  • Led military campaigns towards India and hoisted the Tricolour at Moirang and Port Blair.
• Literary Contributions
  • The Indian Struggle (1935): Analysis of India’s freedom movement (1920–1934).
  • Edited newspapers like Forward and Swaraj (1921–22).
• Death: Bose reportedly died in a plane crash in Taiwan on August 18, 1945, though the circumstances remain debated.
• Legacy: Netaji remains a symbol of courageous nationalism and uncompromising patriotism, inspiring generations; January 23 is celebrated as Parakram Diwas in his honour.

National Legislative Index

Context: The National Legislative Index (NLI) was proposed at the 86th All India Presiding Officers Conference to enable objective evaluation and comparison of Parliament and State Legislatures.

About the National Legislative Index (NLI)

• NLI is a proposed performance-evaluation and benchmarking framework for legislative bodies in India.
• It will objectively measure, compare, and rank the functioning of Parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) and state legislative assemblies/councils using standardized, data-driven parameters.
• Aims to create a national-level index to assess productivity, efficiency, transparency, and overall quality of legislative work.

Objectives and Benefits

• Promote healthy competition among legislatures to improve performance and innovation.
• Enhance quality of dialogue, debates, and legislative output.
• Support the broader national goal of Viksit Bharat (Developed India) by 2047 through stronger democratic institutions.
• Encourage peer learning by highlighting inter-state/ inter-legislature disparities and best practices.

All India Presiding Officers Conference (AIPOC)

• The All India Presiding Officers Conference (AIPOC) is the national forum for presiding officers of India’s legislative bodies. 
• Participants: It brings together the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Chairman or Deputy Chairman of the Rajya Sabha, Speakers of State Legislative Assemblies, and Chairpersons of Legislative Councils.

Nicobar Tribal Council

Context: The Great Nicobar Island mega-project faces fresh controversy as the Nicobar Tribal Council alleges pressure from the district administration to sign “surrender certificates” for ancestral lands. 

About the Nicobar Tribal Council

• The Nicobar Tribal Council is the apex representative body for the indigenous Nicobarese community (a Scheduled Tribe) in the Nicobar Islands.
• Legal Status: Established under statutory regulations like the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (Tribal Councils) Regulation, 2009.
• It functions as a traditional and elected governance mechanism to protect tribal rights, culture, lands, and welfare.
• Structure and Composition: 
• • Village-Level Base: Every Nicobarese village has a Village Council headed by democratically elected Captains. 
  • Tribal Council Level: Composed of Captains from villages in the jurisdiction (Little and Great Nicobar group).
    • They elect a Chief Captain/Chairman and Vice Chief Captain/Vice-Chairman, plus other members.

Key Responsibilities and Powers

• Protects ancestral lands, traditional livelihoods, and cultural practices.
• Provides or revokes No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for projects affecting tribal reserves or lands.
• Ensures implementation of protective laws: Andaman & Nicobar Islands (Protection of Aboriginal Tribes) Regulation, 1956, Forest Rights Act (FRA), 2006, and post-tsunami rehabilitation commitments.
• Represents the community in interactions with the Andaman & Nicobar administration, central government (e.g., Union Tribal Affairs Minister, Lieutenant Governor), and bodies like the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST).
• Advocates for free, prior, and informed consent in development projects.

Net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

Context: India’s net Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) stayed negative for the 4th straight month in November 2025, with outflows exceeding inflows by $446 million.

Key Highlights

• Net FDI negative due to elevated repatriation and disinvestment by foreign firms.
• Gross inflows remain resilient at $6.4 billion (22.5% YoY rise), led by Japan, Singapore, and the U.S.
• Net foreign portfolio investments (FPI) have also been negative so far in the financial year 2025-26, with uncertainty over the India-U.S. trade deal and the weakening rupee affecting investor confidence.
• Top Sources of FDI into India: Singapore, Mauritius, United States, Netherlands, etc
• Top FDI Destination States: Maharashtra (largest share), Karnataka, Delhi / NCR, Gujarat and Tamil Nadu / Telangana
• Top Sectors of India Receiving FDI: Services (Finance, Banking, Insurance), Computer Software & Hardware, Trading, Telecommunications, Automobile & Manufacturing

About Foreign Direct Investment (FDI)

• FDI is a non-debt capital flow where foreign investors acquire lasting interest and management control in Indian enterprises, supporting long-term economic growth.
• Net FDI = Gross inflows minus repatriation, disinvestment, and outward FDI.
  • Repatriation: Transfer of profits, dividends, or capital by foreign investors from their Indian operations back to their home country.
  • Disinvestment: Sale or reduction of ownership stake by foreign companies in Indian firms, either partially or fully.
  • Outward FDI: Investments made by Indian companies in businesses or assets located outside India.

Secondary Pollutants

Context: A Commission for Air Quality Management (CAQM) meta-analysis found secondary particulate matter as the single largest contributor to Delhi’s winter air pollution, accounting for 27% of PM2.5 levels.

Key Findings of the CAQM Report

• Secondary particulates dominate Delhi’s winter pollution (27%), followed by transport (23%), biomass burning (20%), dust (15%), and industry (9%).
• High winter PM2.5 is driven by atmospheric chemical reactions, not just direct emissions.

About Secondary Pollutants

• These are air pollutants that are not emitted directly from sources but are formed in the atmosphere through chemical reactions involving primary pollutants.
• Example of Secondary Pollutants: Ammonium sulphate and Ammonium nitrate.
  • These compounds constitute a major share of PM2.5 in Delhi during winter.
• Formation: 
  • SO2 emissions (primarily from coal combustion and brick kilns) undergo oxidation on aerosol surfaces and gas-phase reactions forming sulfuric acid (H2SO4). 
  • Further, NOx emissions undergo photochemical and nocturnal oxidation to form nitric acid (HNO3). 
  • Both H2SO4 and HNO3 react with ammonia (NH3) to form ammonium sulfate and ammonium nitrate aerosols.”
• Role of Ammonia: Around 80% of India’s ammonia emissions originate from fertiliser use and livestock excreta, making agriculture a key indirect contributor to urban air pollution.
• Health Impacts: Secondary PM2.5 particles penetrate deep into the lungs, increasing risks of asthma, COPD, lung cancer, cardiovascular diseases, eye disorders, and acute respiratory infections.

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