News in Shorts: 29 January 2026

Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0

Context: NITI Aayog has launched Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 in Aspirational Districts and Aspirational Blocks across the country.

• It is launched to undertake a sustained effort to achieve saturation of 5 Key Performance Indicators in Aspirational Districts and 6 Key Performance Indicators in Aspirational Blocks across the country.

About Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0

• Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0 is a 3-month national saturation campaign launched by NITI Aayog from 28 January to 14 April 2026.
• Background: Builds upon the success of Sampoornata Abhiyan (2024), which showed strong outcomes through focused, time-bound interventions.
• Coverage: 112 Aspirational Districts and 513 Aspirational Blocks across India.
• Objective: It aims to achieve full saturation (100% coverage) of selected Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) under the Aspirational Districts and Blocks Programme and focuses on:
  • Health and Nutrition
  • Sanitation and Education
  • Livestock and allied sectors
• Implementation: Jointly implemented by the NITI Aayog, Central Ministries and Departments and State and UT Governments

Key Performance Indicators of Aspirational Blocks

• Child Nutrition: Percentage of children (6 months–6 years) regularly receiving supplementary nutrition under Integrated Child Development Services (ICDS).
• Growth Monitoring: Measurement efficiency of children enrolled at Anganwadi Centres.
• Sanitation: Percentage of operational Anganwadi Centres with functional toilets.
• Drinking Water: Percentage of Anganwadi Centres with potable water facilities.
• Education Infrastructure: Percentage of schools with adequate girls’ toilet facilities.
• Livestock Health: Percentage of bovine animals vaccinated against Foot and Mouth Disease.

Key Performance Indicators of Aspirational Districts

• Maternal & Child Health: Proportion of live babies weighed at birth.
• Public Health: TB case notification rate (public and private) against estimated cases.
• Preventive Healthcare: Conduct of at least one Village Health Sanitation & Nutrition day / Urban Health Sanitation & Nutrition day by Anganwadis or Urban Primary Health Centres in the last month.
• School Infrastructure: Percentage of schools with functional girls’ toilets.
• Animal Health: Overall animal vaccination coverage.

Implementation Strategy

• 3-Month Action Plans prepared by each District and Block.
• Monthly monitoring of progress towards saturation.
• Awareness and behaviour-change campaigns at community level.
• Concurrent field monitoring visits by district-level officers.

India Energy Week 2026

Context: India is projected to be the largest contributor to global oil demand growth till 2050, according to the World Oil Outlook 2025 presented at India Energy Week 2026.

India Energy Week 2026

• India Energy Week 2026 is the 4th edition of India’s annual flagship global energy conference and exhibition. 
• Location: Goa.
• Nodal Ministry : Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. 
• Key sectors featured: hydrogen, biofuels, LNG, renewables, AI/digital energy, city gas distribution, petrochemicals, and net-zero solutions. 

World Oil Outlook

• World Oil Outlook (WOO) is the flagship long-term energy report published annually by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
• Objective: Assess future global energy demand growth and highlight investment needs in oil & gas to ensure energy security.
• Key Features:
  • Provides a long-term assessment (up to 2050) of global oil and energy markets.
  • Analyses trends in oil demand, supply, investment, technology, and policies.
  • Focuses on differences between OECD and non-OECD countries.
• Key Findings of World Oil Outlook 2025:
  • India will be the largest driver of oil demand growth by 2050, the highest globally, driven by transportation, petrochemicals, and industrial expansion.
  • Global Oil Demand: Demand growth will be concentrated in non-OECD countries, reflecting uneven energy transition.
  • Oil & Gas: Outlook highlights continued importance of oil and gas in meeting rising energy needs.

Quantum-Resilient Cybersecurity

Context: The Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics (BISAG-N) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with QNu Labs Pvt. Ltd. to collaborate on quantum-resilient cybersecurity solutions.

About Quantum-Resilient Cybersecurity

• Quantum security marks a fundamental transition from computational security to physics-based security, addressing future high-end cyber threats.
• Rooted in Quantum Mechanics: It leverages principles such as superposition, entanglement, and uncertainty, which have no classical equivalent.
• Quantum Key Distribution (QKD): QKD is the most mature application of quantum security, enabling secure key exchange using quantum states.
• Unconditional Security: Unlike classical methods, QKD provides security guaranteed by the laws of physics, not computational hardness.
• Eavesdropping Detection: Any interception alters the quantum state due to quantum uncertainty, instantly alerting legitimate users.
• Future-Proof Digital Infrastructure: Quantum-resilient cybersecurity strengthens critical infrastructure, defence, and financial systems against next-generation attacks.
  

Key Features of the MoU

• Objective: To strengthen India’s quantum-resilient cybersecurity capabilities through collaboration and technology transfer.
  • Aimed at protecting government systems, defence networks, critical infrastructure, and public sector platforms.
• Technology Integration: BISAG-N’s indigenous cryptographic software “Vedic Kavach” will be integrated with quantum hardware and secure infrastructure from QNu Labs.
  • It enables hardware-backed, quantum-safe security solutions.
• Institutions Involved: 
  • Bhaskaracharya National Institute for Space Applications and Geo-informatics  (BISAG-N):
    • An autonomous institute under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
    • Known for indigenous cryptographic software and secure digital platforms.
  • QNu Labs Pvt. Ltd.:
    • An Indian deep-tech company focused on quantum cybersecurity hardware and solutions.
    • Follows an India-first, indigenous technology approach.

Tulu Language

Context: Karnataka is considering declaring Tulu as its second official language under Article 345.

About Tulu Language

• Tulu is an ancient Dravidian language spoken mainly in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts of Karnataka and parts of Kerala.
• Key Features
• • History of over 3,000 years
  • Possesses a distinct script, Tigalari.
  • Rich oral literature, folklore, and ritual traditions
• Use : Tulu is taught in universities supported by Tulu academies.
  • It is also included in Google Translate, aiding digital preservation
• Contemporary Relevance: It is a cultural identity marker for the Tuluva community.

Official Languages of States in India

• States in India may adopt one or more official languages for administrative and official purposes, reflecting linguistic diversity and federal flexibility.
• Constitutional Provision: Article 345 empowers State Legislatures to adopt any language in use in the State as an official language
  • Does not require inclusion in the Eighth Schedule (Tulu is not listed as scheduled Languages).
• Second Official Language Models: Provides administrative inclusion without displacing the primary official language
  • Andhra Pradesh: Urdu declared second official language
  • West Bengal: Use of additional languages in notified regions

Significance of Declaring Tulu as Official Language

• Enhances linguistic inclusion and cultural recognition
• Strengthens grassroots governance and citizen participation
• Aligns with India’s constitutional ethos of unity in diversity

4B Movement

Context: The 4B movement, originating in South Korea, has re-entered public debate as a radical feminist response to entrenched patriarchy and gender-based violence.

What is the 4B Movement?

The 4B movement is a feminist political movement from South Korea in which women collectively refuse participation in traditional heterosexual institutions seen as reinforcing patriarchy.

The Four ‘Nos’

• No Marriage (Bihon): Rejection of marriage as an institution that often entrenches unpaid care work and unequal power relations.
• No Childbirth (Bichulsan): Refusal of motherhood amid societal pressure that reduces women to reproductive roles.
• No Dating (Biyeonae): Avoidance of dating cultures that normalise emotional labour and gendered expectations.
• No Sex (Bisekseu): Withholding sexual relationships as a form of resistance against coercion and entitlement.

Rationale Behind the Movement

• Structural Patriarchy: Marriage, family, and dating are viewed as pipelines to unpaid labour, diminished autonomy, and systemic gender inequality.
• Response to Gender Violence and Misogyny: The movement emerged amid rising misogyny, online abuse, femicides, and institutional apathy toward women’s safety.
• Political, Not Personal, Resistance: 4B is a collective refusal aimed at withdrawing participation from systems seen as inherently exploitative, rather than a lifestyle choice.

The 4B movement reframes abstinence and non-participation as tools of political dissent, challenging deeply embedded gender norms in modern societies.

Menopause Clinics

Context: Maharashtra has launched India’s first government-run dedicated menopause clinics, integrating physical and mental healthcare for women in public health facilities.

About Menopause

• Menopause is a natural biological transition marking the end of a woman’s reproductive phase, usually occurring between 45–55 years, characterised by permanent cessation of menstruation.
• Associated Health Issues
• • Hormonal and Physical Changes: Hot flashes, sleep disturbances, fatigue, and hormonal imbalance affecting daily functioning.
  • Bone and Cardiovascular Risks: Increased vulnerability to osteoporosis and heart diseases due to declining estrogen levels.
  • Mental and Emotional Health: Higher incidence of anxiety, depression, mood swings, and psychological stress during the transition.

About Dedicated Menopause Clinics

• Maharashtra has established specialised menopause clinics across government hospitals and urban health centres, becoming the first state to institutionalise focused menopause care.
• Objectives
  • To provide integrated medical consultation covering gynaecology, mental health, and lifestyle guidance.
  • To ensure screening and early detection of bone, heart, and hormonal disorders.
  • To offer medicines, counselling, and health education at a single, accessible location.
• Need for the Initiative
  • Menopause remains a neglected and under-discussed phase, often lacking structured public healthcare support.
  • Women frequently face untreated physical discomfort and mental distress due to stigma and low awareness.
  • Dedicated clinics promote dignity, preventive care, and gender-sensitive healthcare, aligning with women-centric public health goals.
• Significance: The initiative sets a replicable model for other states, strengthening preventive healthcare and addressing women’s health beyond reproductive years.

Economic Survey 2025–26

Context: The Economic Survey 2025–26 was tabled in Parliament on January 29, 2026, ahead of the Union Budget, outlining India’s economic performance and outlook.

About the Economic Survey

• The Economic Survey is the Government of India’s annual flagship policy document that reviews macroeconomic trends, sectoral performance, and structural reforms during the preceding financial year.
• Origin: It was first presented in 1950-51 as a part of the Union Budget to overview economic performance.
  • In 1964, it was separated from the budget and has since been presented annually, usually one day before the budget, to highlight economic trends.
• Compiled By: The Survey is prepared by the Department of Economic Affairs, Ministry of Finance, under the guidance of the Chief Economic Adviser (CEA) and his team.
• Published By: It is formally tabled by the Union Finance Minister in both Houses of Parliament during the Budget Session.
• Contents of the Economic Survey
• • State of the Economy: Growth trends, inflation, employment, fiscal position, and external sector performance.
  • Sectoral Analysis: Assessment of agriculture, industry, services, infrastructure, and financial sector developments.
  • Policy Outlook: Medium-term economic challenges, reform priorities, and risks to growth.
  • Data and Evidence: Extensive use of statistics, charts, and empirical analysis to support policy recommendations.

The Economic Survey acts as a diagnostic tool and policy guide, shaping Budget priorities and informing Parliament, policymakers, and aspirants about India’s economic direction.

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