{"id":3787,"date":"2026-01-05T07:28:12","date_gmt":"2026-01-05T07:28:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=3787"},"modified":"2026-01-06T13:21:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-06T13:21:24","slug":"current-affairs-5th-january-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2026\/01\/05\/current-affairs-5th-january-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 5th January 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1. Ovlive Ridley deaths raise cocncern as new nesting season begins in season begins in A.p<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-Environment<\/p>\n<p>Context : New nesting season has started along Andhra Pradesh and Visakhapatnam beaches (Dec\u2013Apr).\u200b<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Hundreds to thousands of carcasses have recently washed ashore on AP beaches during this period.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>These beaches are key nesting grounds for olive ridleys in the Bay of Bengal region.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conservation status<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>IUCN<\/strong>\u00a0status: Vulnerable globally due to declining populations.\u200b<\/li>\n<li><strong>India<\/strong>: Listed in Schedule I of Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 \u2013 highest legal protection.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Included in Appendix I of CITES \u2013 bans international commercial trade in the species.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Protected under Convention on Migratory Species for conserving migratory routes and habitats.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What happened in Andhra Pradesh<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Carcasses reported along stretches near Visakhapatnam, Machilipatnam and Krishna estuary.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Reports mention over 2,600 turtles found dead along AP coast in January in one recent season.\u200b\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Forest department and NGOs have begun beach monitoring and set up hatcheries near Vizag to protect nests.\u200b\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Likely cause of deaths<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Post\u2011mortem observations indicate drowning after entanglement in mechanised fishing nets.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Trawlers and gill nets operate close to shore in peak breeding months, increasing bycatch risk.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Many boats do not use Turtle Excluder Devices (TEDs), so trapped turtles cannot escape and suffocate.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Legal &amp; regulatory issues<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Wildlife (Protection) Act bans hunting\/harassing Schedule I species, but at\u2011sea bycatch is poorly enforced.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>State marine fishing regulations mandate seasonal fishing restrictions, yet trawlers often fish within prohibited zones.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Use of TEDs is recommended\/mandated in policy, but compliance monitoring on mechanised vessels is weak.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Coastal Regulation Zone norms seek to limit coastal infrastructure and lights, but light pollution still disturbs nesting beaches<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2. ICGS Samudra Pratap<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-science and technology<\/p>\n<p><strong>CONTEXT ;<\/strong>Defence Minister is commissioning I CGS Samudra Pratap in Goa as the first of two new pollution\u2011control vessels.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The ship will enhance Indian Coast Guard (ICG) roles in pollution response, fire\u2011fighting and maritime security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is ICGS Samudra Pratap?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>A dedicated Pollution Control Vessel (PCV) of the Indian Coast Guard.<\/li>\n<li>Designed mainly for detection, containment and recovery of marine oil and chemical spills.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Type of vessel<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Special\u2011purpose offshore pollution\u2011control and support ship.<\/li>\n<li>Also capable of limited patrol, fire\u2011fighting and support to other maritime operations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key technical specifications<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Length about 114.5 metres; displacement around 4,200 tonnes.<\/li>\n<li>Speed over 22 knots with endurance of roughly 6,000 nautical miles.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Advanced pollution\u2011control capabilities<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fitted with sensors and systems to detect oil in water and monitor spills.<\/li>\n<li>Can recover viscous oil, separate oil from contaminated water and store recovered pollutants.<\/li>\n<li>Has equipment to analyse contaminants on board for quicker response decisions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Operational area: EEZ and beyond<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Meant for operations across India\u2019s Exclusive Economic Zone and adjoining high seas.<\/li>\n<li>Can support regional pollution\u2011response missions under bilateral or multilateral arrangements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why EEZ protection is important<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>EEZ holds major offshore oil, gas, fisheries and shipping routes vital for the blue economy.<\/li>\n<li>Oil spills here can damage livelihoods of coastal communities and sensitive ecosystems.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Strategic and environmental significance<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Strengthens India\u2019s reputation as a responsible maritime power in the Indian Ocean.<\/li>\n<li>Enhances capability to respond to tanker accidents near busy sea lanes around India.<\/li>\n<li>Reduces dependence on foreign assistance for large\u2011scale spill response and clean\u2011up.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>National commitments<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Supports India\u2019s obligations under MARPOL and other marine\u2011pollution conventions.<\/li>\n<li>Aligns with national goals on coastal resilience, blue\u2011economy growth and disaster management.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">3. Venezuela crisis unlikely to hit Indias energy security<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper II-IR<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>Fresh data show sharp fall in Indian crude oil imports from Venezuela since U.S. sanctions in 2019.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ongoing political and economic turmoil in Venezuela raised questions on India\u2019s energy security.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Background: India\u2013Venezuela oil trade<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Venezuela was once a major crude supplier to India, with imports touching around 13 billion dollars in 2013.<\/li>\n<li>State refiners like Reliance and Nayara earlier relied significantly on Venezuelan heavy crude blends.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Present situation &amp; imports from Venezuela<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>In 2025\u201326 (up to November), India imported about 255 million dollars of Venezuelan crude, roughly 0.3% of total oil imports.<\/li>\n<li>India has diversified towards Middle East, U.S., Russia and others, reducing dependence on Venezuelan barrels.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>U.S. sanctions and their effect<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>U.S. sanctions imposed from 2019 targeted Venezuela\u2019s oil sector and threatened secondary sanctions on buyers.<\/li>\n<li>Indian companies gradually wound down contracts and shipping arrangements to avoid exposure to U.S. financial penalties.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Impact of current Venezuela crisis on India<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Low trade volume means even severe disruption in Venezuelan exports will barely affect India\u2019s crude availability.<\/li>\n<li>India\u2019s diversified supplier base and strategic petroleum reserves further cushion any price or supply shock.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Venezuela, OPEC and global impact<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Venezuela is a member of OPEC but currently contributes only a small share of global crude output.<\/li>\n<li>Its limited effective production capacity means disruptions have modest impact compared with larger OPEC producers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Heavy crude oil issues<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Venezuelan crude is mostly extra\u2011heavy, high\u2011sulphur oil needing complex, specially upgraded refineries.<\/li>\n<li>Few refineries worldwide can process such crude economically, so sanctions plus technical limits keep its market narrow.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>U.S. politics and geopolitical angle<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>U.S. policy seeks to pressure the Venezuelan government while also managing domestic fuel prices and supply.<\/li>\n<li>Control over Venezuelan oil assets and market access is part of broader U.S. competition and alignment politics in the Americas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">4. National seminar <strong>&#8216;Aeronautics 2047&#8217;<\/strong> in Bengaluru<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-science and technology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>Air Chief Marshal <strong>A.P. Singh<\/strong> inaugurated the two-day national seminar <strong>&#8216;Aeronautics 2047&#8217;<\/strong> in Bengaluru on January 4, 2026.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The event marked <strong>25 years<\/strong> since the maiden flight of LCA Tejas (January 4, 2001).<\/li>\n<li>He stressed timely delivery of combat aircraft to maintain IAF operational readiness amid evolving threats.<\/li>\n<li>DRDO Chairman <strong>Samir V. Kamat<\/strong> highlighted indigenous tech development to reduce import dependence for <strong>Viksit Bharat @2047<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>LCA Tejas Programme: A Symbol of Atmanirbhar Bharat<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fully indigenous 4.5-generation multirole fighter designed by <strong>ADA<\/strong> and manufactured by <strong>HAL<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Involved over 100 design centres (govt labs, academia, industries).<\/li>\n<li>Over 5,600 successful flights; developed niche tech despite sanctions\/delays.<\/li>\n<li>Reduces import reliance (India historically &gt;70% defence imports).<\/li>\n<li>Boosts domestic ecosystem, jobs, tech transfer; aligns with self-reliance vision.<\/li>\n<li>Builds capability\/capacity for future platforms like Mk2\/AMCA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is LCA Tejas?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Single-engine, delta-wing, lightweight multirole combat aircraft.<\/li>\n<li>Replaces ageing MiG-21 fleet; performs air superiority, ground strikes, reconnaissance.<\/li>\n<li>4th\/4.5-generation with supersonic capability, advanced avionics.<\/li>\n<li>Variants: Mk1 (inducted), Mk1A (upgraded), Naval, Trainer.<\/li>\n<li>Current IAF strength: ~40 Mk1 (two squadrons).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key Achievements<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Maiden flight: January 4, 2001 (25 years celebrated in 2026).<\/li>\n<li>Over 5,600 flights without major incidents.<\/li>\n<li>Induction: Two IAF squadrons operational.<\/li>\n<li>Orders: 40 Mk1 + 83 Mk1A (2021) + 97 more Mk1A (2025) \u2248 220 total.<\/li>\n<li>International displays: Bahrain, Singapore, Malaysia interest.<\/li>\n<li>Proven in exercises like Gagan Shakti.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Advanced Indigenous Technologies in Tejas<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Fly-by-wire flight control system.<\/li>\n<li>Carbon composites\/light-weight materials.<\/li>\n<li>Digital utility management system.<\/li>\n<li>Glass cockpit.<\/li>\n<li>AESA radar (Uttam in Mk1A).<\/li>\n<li>Electronic warfare suite.<\/li>\n<li>On-board oxygen generation (OBOGS).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Tejas Variants Comparison Table<\/strong><\/p>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Variant<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Status (as of Jan 2026)<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Key Features<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Engine<\/strong><\/td>\n<td><strong>Deliveries\/ Timeline<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Tejas Mk1<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Operational (40 inducted)<\/td>\n<td>Base 4th-gen fighter; F404 engine<\/td>\n<td>GE F404-IN20<\/td>\n<td>Complete; two IAF squadrons active<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Tejas Mk1A<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Under production; delays ongoing<\/td>\n<td>AESA radar, EW suite, improved avionics\/maintainability<\/td>\n<td>GE F404-IN20<\/td>\n<td>First expected March 2026; engine delays<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td><strong>Tejas Mk2<\/strong><\/td>\n<td>Prototype ground testing; rollout soon<\/td>\n<td>Larger, canards, higher payload (6.5t), 13 hardpoints<\/td>\n<td>GE F414-INS6<\/td>\n<td>Rollout March-June 2026; first flight late 2026\/early 2027<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>Concerns Highlighted by the Air Force Chief<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Strict adherence to delivery timelines critical for IAF readiness.<\/li>\n<li>Delays impact squadron strength (current ~30 vs authorised 42).<\/li>\n<li>Rapidly evolving security environment demands timely induction.<\/li>\n<li>Mk1A delays (engine supply, testing) affect operational gap.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>DRDO Perspective: Reduce Import Dependence<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Develop cutting-edge indigenous tech for self-reliance.<\/li>\n<li>Tejas built capability to design\/manufacture fighters domestically.<\/li>\n<li>Shift focus to Mk2\/AMCA for advanced platforms.<\/li>\n<li>Aligns with Viksit Bharat @2047; minimises foreign vulnerability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Aeronautics 2047: Looking into the Future<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Seminar explores next-gen aerospace tech.<\/li>\n<li>Topics: Digital manufacturing, AI in design, advanced aerodynamics.<\/li>\n<li>Propulsion, flight testing, digital twins, certification.<\/li>\n<li>Avionics, maintainability, precision manufacturing.<\/li>\n<li>Vision: Indigenous ecosystem for 5th-gen AMCA, reduced imports by 2047.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">5. India loses 0.4% of its GDP every year to natural disasters<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-Economy<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>OECD released <strong>Economic Outlook for Southeast Asia, China and India 2025: Enhancing Disaster Risk Financing<\/strong> in December 2025.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Report highlights escalating disaster frequency, intensity, and economic losses in Emerging Asia.<\/li>\n<li>India loses average <strong>0.4% of GDP annually<\/strong> to natural disasters (1990-2024 data).<\/li>\n<li>Calls for urgent shift to proactive <strong>disaster risk financing<\/strong> amid climate change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Core Message of the Article<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Emerging Asian economies face rising disaster risks in frequency and severity.<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3788 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125541-300x184.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"393\" height=\"241\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125541-300x184.png 300w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125541.png 572w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 393px) 100vw, 393px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Annual disasters ~100, affecting ~80 million people regionally.<\/li>\n<li>Economic losses escalating; disaster risk finance now policy priority.<\/li>\n<li>Need data-driven foundations, ex-ante financing (insurance, pools), regional cooperation.<\/li>\n<li>Climate change amplifies hydrological (floods) and meteorological (storms) events.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Disaster Technologies in Emerging Asia: Country-Wise Patterns<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>India\/China<\/strong>: High seismic risks + floods\/storms; hydrological dominant.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Philippines\/Vietnam<\/strong>: Tropical cyclones frequent; meteorological primary.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indonesia<\/strong>: Volcanic + earthquakes; geophysical significant.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Myanmar\/Cambodia<\/strong>: Predominantly meteorological\/cyclonic storms.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Thailand\/Malaysia<\/strong>: Floods + storms; hydrological leading.<\/li>\n<li>Geography drives variation: Coastal (cyclones), Himalayan (landslides), seismic zones.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Total Disaster Occurrence (2000-2024 Approx.)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Highest: <strong>China<\/strong> (~600 events), <strong>India<\/strong> (~400+), <strong>Indonesia<\/strong> (~300+).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Philippines<\/strong> (~250+), <strong>Vietnam<\/strong> (~200).<\/li>\n<li>Dominant types: Floods (leading), storms, earthquakes, droughts, volcanic.<\/li>\n<li>Sharp rise post-2000; floods\/storms surged due to climate factors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Rising Economic Damage<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Total damage 1980-2024: Highest in <strong>China\/India<\/strong> (hundreds of billions $).<\/li>\n<li>Recent decades (2010-2024): Accelerated due to intensity + asset exposure.<\/li>\n<li>Emerging Asia: Losses equivalent to significant GDP shares annually.<\/li>\n<li>Cascading effects: Infrastructure, agriculture, supply chains disrupted.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>India&#8217;s 0.4% GDP Loss Explained<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Average annual direct losses 1990-2024 \u2248 <strong>0.4% of GDP<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Primarily from <strong>hydrological (floods\/landslides)<\/strong> + meteorological events.<\/li>\n<li>Distinct from others: Non-storm floods dominant vs. cyclones elsewhere.<\/li>\n<li>Compounded by population density, urbanisation in vulnerable areas.<\/li>\n<li>Edge case: Actual may vary yearly; indirect losses (productivity) higher.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What Does 0.4% GDP Loss Mean?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>For India&#8217;s ~$4 trillion GDP (2025 est.): ~<strong>$16 billion annual loss<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Covers direct damages: Infrastructure, crops, housing, public utilities.<\/li>\n<li>Excludes indirect: Lost growth, poverty spikes, fiscal reallocation.<\/li>\n<li>Implication: Drains investment; hinders Viksit Bharat goals.<\/li>\n<li>Nuance: Sustainable loss if mitigated; otherwise compounds inequality.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Composition of Disaster Losses<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Hydrological<\/strong> (floods\/landslides): Dominant in India\/Indonesia.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Meteorological<\/strong> (storms\/cyclones): High in Philippines\/Vietnam.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Geophysical<\/strong> (earthquakes\/volcanic): Significant in Indonesia\/China.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Climatological<\/strong> (droughts\/wildfires): Rising regionally.<\/li>\n<li>Overall: Floods &gt; storms &gt; earthquakes &gt; others.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>World Risk Index (2025 Rankings &#8211; Key Asia)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Philippines<\/strong>: Highest risk globally.<\/li>\n<li><strong>India<\/strong>: 2nd worldwide (switched with Indonesia).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Indonesia<\/strong>: High (top 5).<\/li>\n<li><strong>China<\/strong>: Re-entered top 10.<\/li>\n<li>Factors: Exposure + vulnerability (susceptibility, coping, adaptation).<\/li>\n<li>Philippines\/India: High due to geometric exposure + population factors.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why Disaster Risk Finance is Now Crucial<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Losses escalating faster than GDP growth in vulnerable nations.<\/li>\n<li>Traditional ex-post (budget reallocation) insufficient; creates fiscal gaps.<\/li>\n<li>Shift to ex-ante: Insurance, cat bonds, regional pools (e.g., SEADRIF).<\/li>\n<li>Builds resilience: Quick recovery, protects poor, enables investment.<\/li>\n<li>Policy needs: Institutional capacity, education, regional cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>6. Somnath Swabhiman Parv<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS Paper I-History-Art and Culture<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong> <strong>Somnath Swabhiman Parv<\/strong> commemorates <strong>1,000 years (1026\u20132026)<\/strong> since the first recorded destruction of the <strong>Somnath Temple<\/strong>, symbolising India\u2019s uninterrupted civilisational faith, resilience, and cultural resurgence.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Somnath Swabhiman Parv \u2013 key idea<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Period: 1026\u20132026, linking millennium\u2011long resistance, reconstruction and faith.<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3789 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125634-300x234.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"400\" height=\"312\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125634-300x234.png 300w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125634.png 416w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 400px) 100vw, 400px\" \/><\/li>\n<li>Nature: Cultural\u2013civilisational commemoration, not a conventional political or religious campaign.<\/li>\n<li>Core theme: Swabhiman (self\u2011respect), unbroken faith, and resilience of Indian civilisation.<\/li>\n<li>Focus: Civilisational memory, cultural pride, correcting historical neglect, and inspiring youth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Somnath Temple \u2013 essentials<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Location: Prabhas Patan on Gujarat\u2019s Arabian Sea coast.<\/li>\n<li>Religious status: Revered as the first of the twelve Shiva Jyotirlingas.<\/li>\n<li>Scriptural link: Mentioned in Vedic tradition and associated Puranic literature.<\/li>\n<li>Sacred geography: At the Triveni Sangam of Kapila, Hiran and the (mythic) Saraswati.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Jyotirlinga context<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Somnath is one among 12 Jyotirlingas central to pan\u2011Indian Shaiva devotion.<\/li>\n<li>Others: Mallikarjuna, Mahakaleshwar, Omkareshwar, Vaidyanath, Nageshwar, Kedarnath, Grishneshwar, Bhimashankar, Trimbakeshwar, Rameshwaram, Kashi Vishwanath.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Historical timeline: attacks &amp; rebuilding<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1024\u201326 CE: Somnath plundered by Mahmud of Ghazni, becoming a symbol of cultural resistance.<\/li>\n<li>1297 &amp; 1394: Repeatedly damaged during Delhi Sultanate campaigns in Gujarat.<\/li>\n<li>1706: Ordered demolished under Aurangzeb, reflecting late\u2011Mughal iconoclasm.<\/li>\n<li>Modern era: Rebuilt after Independence in Chalukya (Solanki) style in its traditional site.<\/li>\n<li>Reconstruction: Championed by Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel as Deputy PM &amp; Home Minister.<\/li>\n<li>1951: Prana\u2011pratishtha of the new temple performed by President Dr. Rajendra Prasad.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>7. Indus Waters Treaty &amp; Salal Reservoir <\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>GS paper II-polity <\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Context <\/strong><strong>:<\/strong> Following the <strong>Indus Waters Treaty (IWT)<\/strong> being kept <strong>in abeyance<\/strong>, India has initiated <strong>desilting of the Salal reservoir<\/strong> in Jammu &amp; Kashmir to maximise water utilisation and hydropower efficiency.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Indus Waters Treaty \u2013 basics<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3790 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125705-300x257.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"332\" height=\"284\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125705-300x257.png 300w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-05-125705.png 485w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 332px) 100vw, 332px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Signed in 1960 between India and Pakistan with World Bank facilitation.<\/li>\n<li>Allocates eastern rivers (Ravi, Beas, Sutlej) for near\u2011exclusive Indian use.<\/li>\n<li>Reserves western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab) mainly for Pakistan, with limited Indian use for hydropower, irrigation and domestic needs.<\/li>\n<li>Provides detailed design constraints for Indian projects on western rivers to protect downstream flows.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key terms \u2013 desilting and RoR<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Desilting<\/strong>: Removal of silt deposits from reservoirs to regain storage, improve flood control and sustain power output.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Run\u2011of\u2011the\u2011River (RoR) project<\/strong>: Hydropower scheme with minimal live storage, using river flow as it comes, generally permitted on western rivers subject to IWT design limits.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Salal Hydroelectric Project \u2013 essentials<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Located in Reasi district of Jammu &amp; Kashmir on the Chenab River.<\/li>\n<li>Operated by NHPC as a run\u2011of\u2011the\u2011river hydropower station with relatively small storage.<\/li>\n<li>Among the earliest major Indian projects on the Chenab planned and executed under IWT constraints.<\/li>\n<li>Chronic siltation has reduced its effective storage and power potential over time.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Strategic significance of desilting Salal<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Restores India\u2019s capacity to utilise its entitled share of Chenab waters more efficiently.<\/li>\n<li>Enhances peaking power availability and grid stability in northern India.<\/li>\n<li>Signals a more assertive approach within the treaty\u2019s legal space, especially after the IWT was put in abeyance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Broader implications for IWT and water use<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Desilting and efficiency upgrades help India maximise benefits from existing projects without formally violating treaty terms.<\/li>\n<li>Could set a precedent for similar optimisation at other western\u2011river projects.<\/li>\n<li>May sharpen India\u2013Pakistan discourse on \u201cinterference\u201d with downstream flows, making technical compliance and transparency more important.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Ovlive Ridley deaths raise cocncern as new nesting season begins in season begins in A.p GS paper<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3804,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3787","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-current-affairs"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths.jpeg",1328,1328,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths-150x150.jpeg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths-300x300.jpeg",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths-768x768.jpeg",640,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths-1024x1024.jpeg",640,640,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths.jpeg",1328,1328,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths.jpeg",1328,1328,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths-825x575.jpeg",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Ovlive_Ridley_deaths-590x410.jpeg",590,410,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"Nithin DTPoperator","author_link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/author\/nithindtp\/"},"category_info":"<a href=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/category\/daily-current-affairs\/\" rel=\"category tag\">DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS<\/a>","tag_info":"DAILY CURRENT AFFAIRS","comment_count":"0","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3787","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3787"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3787\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3791,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3787\/revisions\/3791"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3804"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3787"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3787"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3787"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}