National Affairs

Mayabunder to Get India's First Smart & Integrated Fishing Harbour under PMMSY

The Department of Fisheries (DoF) under the Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying (MoFAHD) has approved the development of a Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

• Financial Layout: Coined under the "Blue Port Initiative", the project has a total outlay of ₹199.24 crore, funded through 100% Central Financial Assistance under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
• Capacity & Scale: Designed to leverage the islands’ 6 lakh sq. km. Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) (housing an estimated 60,000 MT of tuna and tuna-like species). The harbour will comfortably accommodate 430 fishing vessels with an annual fish landing capacity of 9,900 tonnes.
• SmartBlue Framework: The harbour will integrate Internet of Things (IoT)-enabled systems, digital traceability setups, and green infrastructure to maximize operational efficiency and systematically curb Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
• Sector Growth: India’s overall fisheries production has grown significantly from 96 lakh tonnes in 2013-14 to 197.75 lakh tonnes in 2024-25. Seafood exports currently stand at ₹62,408 crore, targeting ₹1 lakh crore by 2030-31.

MoFAHD Ministry Overview:

• Union Minister: Rajiv Ranjan Singh alias Lalan Singh (Munger, Bihar)
• Ministers of State (MoS): Prof. S.P. Singh Baghel (Agra, UP) & George Kurian (Rajya Sabha, MP)

NITI Aayog Releases Critical Circular Economy Assessment Reports in Jaipur

During the International Material Recycling Conference (IMRC) organized by the Material Recycling Association of India (MRAI) in Jaipur, Rajasthan, NITI Aayog released three comprehensive policy reports charting India's resource recovery future.

1. End-of-Life Vehicles (ELVs)

• Projections: The number of ELVs in India is estimated to more than double from 23 million in 2025 to 50 million by 2030.
• Emissions Check: Highlighting immediate scrappage concerns, the report noted that older Bharat Stage I (BS-I) vehicles discharge up to 8 times more pollutants than modern BS-VI standard models.

2. Waste Tyres

• Generation Volume: India stands as the world's 3rd largest producer and consumer of tyres, discarding approximately 1.5 to 2 Million Tonnes (MT) of waste tyres annually. The report focuses on streamlined End-of-Life Tyre (ELT) processing pipelines.

3. E-Waste and Lithium-ion Batteries (LIBs)

• Developed in partnership with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI).
• E-Waste Surge: Electronic waste is projected to jump from 6.19 MMT to 14 MMT by 2030.
• The Economic Deficit: India's annual e-waste holds an intrinsic economic value of ₹51,000 crore (60% extractable precious elements). However, current recovery frameworks map only 18% of this real potential.

PFRDA Constitutes High-Level SAARG Committee Headed by Narayan Ramachandran

The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has formed a 10-member Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG) Committee to overhaul and modernize the National Pension System (NPS) investment framework.

• The Chair: Chaired by Narayan Ramachandran, former Country Head and CEO of Morgan Stanley India.
• Timeline: The panel has been given a nine-month window to submit its recommendations.
• Core Mandate: Benchmark existing NPS guidelines against global pension giants, evaluate volatile climate-related/ESG risks, integrate Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs), and establish flexible lifecycle/target-date investment choices for subscribers.

About PFRDA: Established initially as an interim body in August 2003; became a statutory authority on February 1, 2014, via the PFRDA Act, 2013.

• Current Chairman: Sivasubramanian Ramann | HQ: New Delhi

Department of Posts Partners with SSL to Expand Financial Services

The Department of Posts (DoP) has signed a business expansion agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited (SSL) at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi to open capital market gateways via the widespread India Post network.

• Services Offered: Post office retail touchpoints will now offer digital onboarding links and QR-enabled setups to open Demat and trading accounts, buy Mutual Funds, and apply for IPOs.
• Rural Literacy Drive: SSL and DoP will co-host targeted financial literacy workshops for first-time investors across Tier-2, Tier-3, and rural sectors.

NITI Aayog and NIIT Foundation Join Forces for Digital Skills in Aspirational Blocks

NITI Aayog has executed a Statement of Intent (SoI) with the NIIT Foundation to ramp up digital proficiency, core vocational learning, and banking literacy across designated Aspirational Blocks.

• Target Audience: Aiming for 100% block saturation to benefit 1.2 lakh individuals.
• Inclusivity: The framework mandates a minimum of 40% female participation. The program execution on the ground will be driven by trained NIIT mobilisers working alongside local community facilitators.

Economy & Business

Adani Defence Signs Strategic Aviation MoU with Brazil's Embraer

Adani Defence & Aerospace has signed an MoU with Brazilian aerospace heavyweight Embraer in New Delhi to create a robust military and regional aircraft manufacturing center in India.

• The Milestone: The agreement lays out the foundations for a Final Assembly Line (FAL) in India. This will mark the first of three upcoming assembly facilities in India, and establishes Embraer’s very first aircraft production complex inside Asia.
• Strategic Vision: The setup includes comprehensive Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) infrastructure aligned to support India’s Regional Transport Aircraft (RTA) roadmap and regional air links under the UDAN layout.

GAIL Enters Equity Deal with K LINE and J M Baxi for LNG Transport

GAIL (India) Limited signed a definitive term sheet at India Energy Week (IEW) 2026 in Goa to pick up an equity stake in a Singapore-based ship-owning consortium, partnering alongside J M Baxi Marine Services and Japan’s Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE).

• The Asset: The investment covers a high-capacity Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) carrier currently under construction at Samsung Heavy Industries (SHI) in South Korea.
• Operations: Slated for a 2027 delivery date, the carrier will operate under a long-term charter dedicated to GAIL. The financial route will move through GAIL’s offshore subsidiary based in GIFT City, Gujarat, following DIPAM greenlights.

Awards & Recognitions

President Approves Jeevan Raksha Padak Series 2025 for 30 Citizens

President Droupadi Murmu approved the conferment of the Jeevan Raksha Padak Series of Awards-2025 on 30 individuals for distinct acts of bravery in saving lives. Six honors were awarded posthumously.

• Sarvottam Jeevan Raksha Padak (6 Recipients): Awarded for exceptional courage shown under immense personal danger. (Recipients from MP, TN, and MoD).
• Uttam Jeevan Raksha Padak (6 Recipients): Conferred for bravery in highly hazardous situations. (Recipients from Delhi, J&K, Kerala, Mizoram, and MoD).
• Jeevan Raksha Padak (18 Recipients): Commending courage in circumstances involving grave bodily injury. (Recipients from AP, J&K, Kerala, Lakshadweep, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Punjab, and BRO).

Monetary Component: The awards carry a dedicated one-time allowance alongside a medallion and certificate: ₹2 Lakh for Sarvottam, ₹1.5 Lakh for Uttam, and ₹1 Lakh for Jeevan Raksha.

Gallantry Awards 2026: 70 Personnel Honored on Republic Day Eve

President Droupadi Murmu approved gallantry decorations for 70 Armed Forces and CAPF personnel, featuring 6 posthumous awards and 17 specific peacetime gallantry decorations.

Top Peacetime Honors:

• Ashoka Chakra: Awarded to Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla (IAF). He made history as the second Indian ever in space (following Rakesh Sharma in 1984) and the first to board the International Space Station (ISS) under the Axiom-4 Mission.
• Kirti Chakra (3 Recipients): Major Arshdeep Singh (1 Assam Rifles); Naib Subedar Doleshwar Subba (2 Para SF); and Group Captain Prashanth Balakrishnan Nair (Gaganyaan Mission Astronaut).
• Shaurya Chakra: Conferred upon two pioneering women officers of the Indian Navy—Lieutenant Commander Dilna K. and Lieutenant Commander Roopa A.

Science & Technology

Microsoft Deploys Second-Generation 'Maia 200' In-House AI Chip

Microsoft has unveiled its next-gen custom artificial intelligence silicon, the Maia 200, stepping up infrastructure independence.

• Hardware Specs: Fabricated by Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC) utilizing its premium 3-nanometer (nm) node process, paired with advanced high-bandwidth memory.
• Live Deployment: The chip is currently active inside Microsoft's flagship enterprise data center in Iowa, handling high-density AI training and inference workloads.

Obituary

Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar Passes Away in Baramati Plane Crash

Senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) Chief and the sitting Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Ajit Pawar, passed away at 66 following a Learjet 45 aircraft (VT-SSK) accident at Baramati Airport in Pune.

• Political Odyssey: Born on July 22, 1959, in Ahmednagar district, he entered cooperative leadership in 1982. He served as the Chairman of Pune District Cooperative Bank for 16 long years.
• Unbroken Streak: Elected as Baramati MP in 1991, he later transitioned to state politics, holding the Baramati Assembly seat continuously for over three decades across 8 successive election victories (1991 to November 2024).
• The Record Deputy: He holds the unique distinction of serving as the Deputy CM of Maharashtra six separate times under four different Chief Ministers (Prithviraj Chavan, Uddhav Thackeray, Devendra Fadnavis, and Eknath Shinde). He also held the crucial Finance & Planning portfolio during 2010–2014 and 2019–2026.

Important Days at a Glance

State News

Assam Launches "Mukhya Mantrir Eti Koli Duti Paat Scheme" for Tea Workers

To celebrate the historic milestone of 200 years of Assam's tea industry, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma launched a specialized welfare program from Tinsukia district.

• Direct Financial Aid: The scheme channels a one-time direct benefit transfer of ₹5,000 into the accounts of over 6 lakh permanent and casual tea garden laborers spanning 836 tea estates.
• Wider Benefits Package: Includes a ₹15,000 nutritional wage payout for pregnant tea workers, an added ₹8,000 top-up for Orunodoi scheme beneficiaries in labor areas, residential land titles (pattas) commencing February 2026, and expanded MBBS seat quotas for students belonging to the tea communities.