News of The Day : 13th January 2026

News of The Day – 13th Jan 2026

The Hindu, Indian Express, Live Mint, Business Standard, Economic Times, PIB and AIR, etc

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Art & Culture)

• About Kathputli 
  • Traditional Rajasthani string puppetry (Kathputli = wooden string puppets)
  • Practised mainly by Bhat community for generations
• Significance:
  • Over 250 families engaged in crafting & performing
  • Puppets narrate Rajput legends, folk tales & epics
  • Ancient folk art form (more than 1000 years old)
  • Highlights artisan life in narrow lanes of the Pink City

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• Rules framed under National Sports Governance Act, 2025 
• Significance of the Rules:
  • Ensures inclusion of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit (SOMs) in governing bodies
  • Mandates 50% women in General Body & at least 4 women in Executive Committee
  • Introduces tiered eligibility criteria for office bearers
• About National Sports Election Panel 
  • Aims for integrity, gender parity & good governance in sports federations – Phased implementation for smooth transition

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• About Section 16 of CEC & Other ECs (Appointment, Conditions of Service & Term of Office) Act, 2023.
• Supreme Court issues notice to Centre & ECI
  • Questions whether such blanket immunity is constitutionally valid.
  • Compares with immunity for President/Governors.
  • Examines impact on accountability of constitutional functionaries.

(GS-2: IR)

• Issued during PM Modi–Chancellor Merz meeting in Ahmedabad (12–13 Jan)
• About India-Germany Relation 
• Significance of the Meet
• Deepened defence & security cooperation:
  • joint exercises, Track 1.5 dialogue
  • Germany to participate in MILAN, IONS & TARANG SHAKTI
• Visa-free transit facility for Indian citizens –
• Strong condemnation of terrorism in all forms
• Enhanced strategic partnership in education, skills & counter-terrorism

(GS-2: IR)

• Pax Silica = US-led alliance for secure & resilient silicon supply chain.
• Focus: critical minerals, semiconductors, AI infrastructure.
• Aims to reduce over-dependence on single sources
• Significance:
  • Strengthens India’s role in global tech value chains
  • Expected to bring investments in AI & semiconductor ecosystem

(GS-2: IR)

• Focus on cross-border e-commerce & time-definite deliveries
• Collaboration between India Post & Deutsche Post DHL
• Joint development of new products & network connectivity
• Improved last-mile delivery services
• Significance: Boost to Indian exports & global logistics efficiency

(GS-3: Economy)

• New regulations under FEMA effective from January 2026
• Features:
  • Comprehensive framework for cross-border guarantees
  • Prohibits guarantees unless specifically permitted
  • Expanded definitions of guarantees & related parties
  • Conditions for resident & non-resident sureties/principal debtors
  • Mandatory quarterly reporting to AD banks & RBI
• Replaces earlier 2000 regulations; improves transparency & compliance

(GS-3: Environment)

• About the Paris Agreement.
• Article 6 of the Paris Agreement deals with carbon markets & cooperative approaches.
• Significance:
  • Allows carbon credit trading & technology transfer.
  • Enables access to climate finance & advanced mitigation technologies.
  • Promotes green growth & sustainable development.
  • Supports achievement of India’s NDCs
• India has taken initial steps to participate in mechanisms.

• About the PSLV-C62 mission
• Causes of failure: Third-stage anomaly caused roll rate disturbance & flight path deviation 
• Payloads: 
  • EOS-N1/Anvesha + 15 co-passenger satellites lost
  • Included OrbitAid’s AayulSAT (in-orbit refuelling demo)
• Second consecutive PSLV failure after C61.

(GS-3: Science & Tech)

• About China’s EAST tokamak 
• What is Plasma Density
• Features:
  • Operates in ‘density-free regime’ beyond Greenwald limit
  • Maintains stability through advanced wall-plasma interaction control
• Significance:
  • Major milestone for fusion reactor stability.
  • Brings world closer to practical, near-limitless clean fusion energy

(GS-3: Science & Tech)

• OrbitAid’s AayulSAT launched on PSLV-C62.
• Significance:
  • Demonstrates propellant, power & data transfer in orbit
  • Features docking interface technology
  • India’s first commercial in-orbit refuelling demonstration
• Aims to extend satellite lifespan & reduce space debris
• Future missions planned with full Rendezvous, Proximity Operations & Docking (RPOD)

• About Third-generation Fire & Forget MPATGM 
• Features:
  • Top-attack mode demonstrated against moving target
  • Equipped with IIR seeker & tandem warhead
• Significance:
  • Fully indigenous development
  • Closer to induction into Indian Army
  • Significantly enhances anti-armour capability