News of The Day : 20th January 2026

News of The Day – 20th Jan 2026

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

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-2: Polity & Governance)

• About Use of AI in Policing.
• Risks of AI in policing
  • over-centralization, surveillance overreach, bias in algorithms, privacy erosion, and potential misuse for excessive control
• Calls for ethical frameworks, transparency, and safeguards to prevent authoritarian tendencies while using AI for crime detection/prediction.

(GS-2: IR )

• Taiwan-controlled Pratas Islands (Dongsha/Tungsha) in northern South China Sea saw a Chinese reconnaissance drone enter airspace 
• Taiwan called it “provocative”; first such drone incident.
• About Pratas Islands (Location and Geography)

(GS-2: IR)

• About “Will for Peace 2026” BRICS Plus naval exercise 
  • Hosted by South Africa with participation from China, Russia, UAE, etc.
  • India and Brazil abstained.
• MEA clarified it was not a regular/institutionalized BRICS activity (only some members joined)
• India participates in established exercises like IBSAMAR.

(GS-2: IR )

• Value of focused, bilateral or minilateral engagements (“small tables”) over large multilateral forums for tangible outcomes in diplomacy, trade, and security amid global uncertainties.
• Highlights India’s strategic approach in leveraging targeted partnerships for “big dividends” in a multipolar world.

(GS-3: Economy)

• UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan’s visit to India 
• Agreement to double bilateral trade to $200 billion by 2032 (from current ~$100 billion+ levels).
• Key pacts signed on LNG supply, defence cooperation, nuclear energy, space, infrastructure, and high-tech.

(GS-3: Economy)

• About India’s first open-sea marine fish farming project in North Bay, Andaman Sea.
• Promotes sustainable aquaculture, boosts fisheries output, creates livelihoods in islands, and enhances the blue economy.
• Part of broader marine farming initiatives using advanced techniques like cage culture.

(GS-3: Economy)

• SEBI’s consultation paper proposes allowing FPIs to “net” funds
• What is netting of funds? 
• Aims to improve efficiency, reduce funding costs (especially during high-volume days like index rebalancing), and ease operational burden for foreign investors.
• About FPI and its features.

• About Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (NBWL)
  • Focused on balancing development (e.g., strategic infrastructure) with conservation in protected areas.
• About NBWL
  • Apex body for wildlife policy.

(GS-3: Environment)

• MoEFCC’s Expert Appraisal Committee directed Tamil Nadu to redesign the International Dugong Conservation Centre at Manora 
• Focus: dugong research, rescue, rehabilitation, awareness.
• About Dugongs (vulnerable, marine mammals)
  • Face threats in Palk Bay/Gulf of Mannar.

(GS-3: Science & Tech)

• About Sukhatme National Award in Statistics
  • Awarded by the Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation.
  • promotes excellence in statistical research, data science, and applications relevant to policy/economy.
• Recognizes contributions to statistics theory/practice. 
• About Prof. P.V. Sukhatme.