News of The Day : 21st January 2026

News of The Day – 21st Jan 2026

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

(with Syllabus Relevance)

(GS-1: Polity and Governance)

• Achieved statehood on 21 January 1972 under North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971.
  • Marked political integration of Northeast into Indian Union.
• Reflects centre’s efforts towards federal accommodation & regional identity.

(GS 2: Polity and Governance)

• About RDI funding
  • Aims to bridge research–industry–innovation gap.
• Focus on deep-tech, strategic sectors, and indigenous innovation.
• Complements National Research Foundation (NRF) vision.

(GS-2: Polity and Governance)

• Governor–State executive relations under Article 163 & 175.
• About the Governor’s address.
  • Reflects the Council of Ministers’ views, not personal discretion.
• Linked to debates on reforming the office of Governor.
• Supreme Court precedents on Similar Cases.

(GS-2: International Relations)

• About Pratas Islands
  • Also known as Dongsha / Tungsha Islands.
  • Controlled by Taiwan, located in the northern South China Sea.
• Strategic amid China-Taiwan tensions and South China Sea disputes.

• RBI mandates statutory auditor certification for PSL compliance to curb misreporting and evergreening.
• Strengthens regulatory oversight, transparency and accountability in banking.
• About Priority Sector Lending (PSL)
  • PSL aims to ensure credit flow to agriculture, MSMEs, education, housing, weaker sections.

• Decentralises decision-making for sericulture development projects.
• Faster approvals improve farmer income and rural livelihoods.
• Supports MSMEs and India’s position in global silk value chains.
• Part of ease-of-doing-business reforms in agriculture allied sectors.

(GS-3: Economy )

• Rising demand of Copper 
  • EVs require 3–4× more copper than ICE vehicles.
• Demand surge affects supply chains, prices, and inflation.
• Raises need for recycling, alternative materials, and resource security.
• About Copper and Copper production.

• Expansion of India’s carbon market / emission reduction framework.
• Aligns with India’s NDC targets under Paris Agreement.
• Encourages energy efficiency, low-carbon technologies.
• Supports India’s goal of net-zero by 2070.

(GS-3: Environment )

• About Gangetic River Dolphin (India’s National Aquatic Animal).
• About Project Dolphin and river conservation efforts.
  • Uses modern acoustic & GIS-based methods.
  • Helps assess population trends, habitat health.

(GS-3: Science & Technology)

• About Reusable launch vehicles (RLVs)
  • Reduce cost, space debris, and emissions.
• ISRO’s RLV-LEX and private startups highlight India’s progress.
  • Enhances India’s competitiveness in the global space economy.
  • Supports long-term goals like space stations and deep-space missions.