{"id":3875,"date":"2026-01-21T08:40:35","date_gmt":"2026-01-21T08:40:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=3875"},"modified":"2026-01-22T07:18:08","modified_gmt":"2026-01-22T07:18:08","slug":"current-affairs-21st-january-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2026\/01\/21\/current-affairs-21st-january-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 21st January 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1. Safe City Project<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-Science and technology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>In January 2026, Delhi Police launched the Safe City Project with 10,000 AI cameras for facial recognition and distress detection, while Maharashtra rolled out MahaCrime OS AI for predictive policing.\u200b<br \/>\nPM Modi&#8217;s directive urges states to form AI task forces, training 70% police personnel, amid rapid AI surveillance expansion.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Current AI Use in Policing<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Delhi Safe City: 10,000 AI cameras detect faces, screams, emergency gestures via CCTNS data.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Maharashtra MahaCrime OS: Predicts crime hotspots, analyzes FIR patterns for faster probes.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Drones &amp; Social Media: Crowd\/traffic control; tracks misleading posts in Bengaluru.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Power Centralization Risks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Shifts authority from local cops to remote data centers, eroding human oversight.\u200b<br \/>\nBeat officers face constant CCTV\/geotag monitoring, codifying hierarchy.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Excessive Surveillance Issues<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One AI camera equals 100 policemen; Hyderabad&#8217;s millions create mass suspicion.\u200b<br \/>\nUndermines protest rights, fosters &#8220;guilty until proven innocent&#8221; via anomaly detection.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Bias and Targeting Problems<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Trained on biased historical data, AI perpetuates community discrimination.\u200b<br \/>\nTelangana 2023 case: Innocent Mohammed Khadeer Khan killed post wrongful facial match.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Transparency Gaps<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>No statutory AI rulebook like police manuals; decisions become unchallengeable black boxes.\u200b<br \/>\nDPDPA 2023 exempts law enforcement, widening privacy voids.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Needed Safeguards<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Enact AI policing laws mandating pre-deployment safety tests, audits.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Human-in-loop: Officers accountable for final arrest calls.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Reform CrPC 2022: Limit non-convict data collection to protect privacy.<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2. The EV Boom is accelerating\u00a0 a copper crunch<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-science and technology<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>The EV boom accelerates a copper crunch as explosive demand from electric vehicles outpaces slow supply growth, creating global deficits.\u200b<br \/>\nThis mismatch threatens energy transition goals and raises prices.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why Copper Crucial<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Copper&#8217;s superior conductivity, durability, and recyclability make it essential for electrification.\u200b<br \/>\nIt enables efficient power delivery in EVs, grids, and renewables.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Uses in EVs<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Li-ion batteries for performance and longevity\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Powertrain motors and controllers for efficient delivery\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Wiring harness and high-voltage cabling\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Charging infrastructure for fast charging\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>EVs Copper Requirement<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>EVs require 3-5 times more copper than ICE vehicles (e.g., 200 lbs vs 40 lbs for Honda Accord).\u200b<br \/>\nBatteries, motors, wiring, and chargers drive this higher usage.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>EV Growth vs Copper Supply<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>EV sales hit 20.7 million in 2025, fueling demand surge.\u200b<br \/>\nSupply grows slowly at 0.9-2.3% annually due to mining constraints.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Demand Side: EV Boom<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Global EV adoption, AI data centers, renewables pull copper demand up 50% by 2040.\u200b<br \/>\nEVs alone account for 55% of incremental demand.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Supply Side Challenges<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Declining ore grades, high capex, permitting delays slow new mines (16+ years discovery-to-production).\u200b<br \/>\nMine disruptions in Chile, Indonesia, Congo cut output.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>EV Sales and Copper Demand<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>EV sales and copper use grow in near-perfect lockstep, with each EV needing 3-4x more copper.\u200b<br \/>\nCharging infrastructure amplifies this linkage.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Global Copper Deficit<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>ICSG projects 150,000-tonne refined copper deficit in 2026, up from prior surplus forecast.\u200b<br \/>\nGoldman Sachs sees 160-200,000 tonnes through 2026.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Causes of Deficit :<\/strong>Slower production growth (1.4% in 2025), disruptions, and underinvestment in new supply.\u200b<br \/>\nDemand from EVs, AI, grids exceeds supply response.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Consequences<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Higher prices (potentially $12,000\/tonne), EV production delays, costlier batteries.\u200b<br \/>\nSlows net-zero targets and raises consumer prices.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>China&#8217;s Dominance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>China leads via strong ties to copper exporters, massive EV\/charging buildout.\u200b<br \/>\nControls refining, infrastructure stimulus for sustained demand.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Global Comparison<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>China edges US\/West in mineral foresight and supply security.\u200b<br \/>\nIndia faces supply gaps despite EV targets, relies on imports.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Policy and Governance Implications<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>India needs supply chain indigenization, mining reforms, recycling push.\u200b<br \/>\nGlobal: Trade reforms, resource nationalism risks, sustainability focus.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">3. Board of Peace&#8221; for Gaza<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS PAPER II-IR<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>US President Donald Trump invited India to join his &#8220;Board of Peace&#8221; for Gaza via a letter to PM Modi, raising diplomatic debates on mandate clarity and UN bypass risks.\u200b<br \/>\nIndia adopted a cautious wait-and-watch stance amid unclear board structure, potential $1B funding ties, and Pakistan&#8217;s parallel invitation.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Board Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>US-led forum to oversee Gaza&#8217;s post-war governance, reconstruction, and security after Israel-Hamas conflict.\u200b<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3876 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-21-140754-300x169.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"330\" height=\"186\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-21-140754-300x169.png 300w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-21-140754.png 478w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 330px) 100vw, 330px\" \/><br \/>\nChaired by Trump with veto powers, beyond his presidential term; invites ~60 nations including India, Egypt, Jordan.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Core Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Stabilize Gaza via technocratic Palestinian NCAG administration and ceasefire monitoring.\u200b<br \/>\nMobilize investments, public services, and economic revival, potentially expanding to other conflicts.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Key Functions<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Supervise governance transition from Hamas rule\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Coordinate reconstruction funding and capital flows\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Ensure compliance with ceasefire terms\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Facilitate high-level political-financial decisions\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>India&#8217;s Dilemma<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Clashes with India&#8217;s UN multilateralism advocacy and Global South reforms push.\u200b<br \/>\nBalancing US ties, Israel defence cooperation, and two-state Palestinian support invites Arab\/Islamic scrutiny.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Clarity Concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Draft charter omits &#8220;Gaza,&#8221; uses vague &#8220;world peace&#8221; terms; hints at UNSC alternative.\u200b<br \/>\nUnclear mandate, executive roles, NCAG integration per experts like Veena Sikri.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Funding Controversy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Permanent membership may require $1B reconstruction fund contribution, creating pay-to-play selectivity.\u200b<br \/>\nContrasts UN&#8217;s inclusive stakeholder model, risks fragmented peace processes.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Pakistan Complication<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Pakistan invited too, possibly for Gaza stabilization troops; India rejects non-UN missions.\u200b<br \/>\nSharing platform risks domestic backlash over terrorism accusations, no-talks policy.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Strategic Risks<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Joining dilutes multilateral credibility; abstaining cedes influence in emerging platforms.\u200b<br \/>\nTests India&#8217;s Gaza balancing act amid US engagement and constitutional UN commitment.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">4. The importance of pax silica for India<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS PAPER II-IR<\/p>\n<p><strong>context :<\/strong>Pax Silica launched by US in December 2025 at inaugural summit.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>US-led initiative to secure AI, semiconductors, and critical minerals supply chains.<\/li>\n<li>India invited to join soon, highlighted in recent diplomatic statements.<\/li>\n<li>Response to China&#8217;s dominance in rare earths and tech supply chains.<\/li>\n<li>Gaining attention due to geopolitical shifts and India&#8217;s potential role.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is Pax Silica?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>US-led strategic initiative for secure, resilient silicon supply chain.<\/li>\n<li>Covers critical minerals, energy, advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, AI infrastructure, logistics.<\/li>\n<li>&#8220;Pax&#8221; means peace; &#8220;Silica&#8221; refers to key chip compound.<\/li>\n<li>Aims to reduce coercive dependencies and build trusted tech ecosystems.<\/li>\n<li>Non-binding declaration promotes peace, prosperity via cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key Members and Participants<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Core signatories: US, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, Netherlands, UK, Israel, Australia.<\/li>\n<li>Additional: UAE joined later; Qatar also mentioned in expansions.<\/li>\n<li>Guests\/observers initially: Taiwan, EU, Canada, OECD.<\/li>\n<li>India set to join soon as invited partner.<\/li>\n<li>Evolving coalition of trusted, tech-advanced nations.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why Pax Silica? (Countering China)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>China dominates ~90% of rare earth processing and refining.<\/li>\n<li>Beijing uses export controls, restrictions on critical minerals.<\/li>\n<li>Creates vulnerabilities in global tech, AI, defense supply chains.<\/li>\n<li>US seeks to counter coercive leverage and single-point failures.<\/li>\n<li>Builds alternative trusted networks excluding dominant adversary.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>India&#8217;s Prior Efforts on Supply Chain Resilience<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Active in Quad Critical Minerals Initiative with US, Japan, Australia.<\/li>\n<li>Collaborations with Japan, Singapore on semiconductors.<\/li>\n<li>Domestic push via semiconductor missions and AI ecosystem growth.<\/li>\n<li>Investments in rare earth processing and tech self-reliance.<\/li>\n<li>Partnerships with US firms and allies for resilient chains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why Pax Silica Matters for India?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Access to secure, diversified critical minerals and tech inputs.<\/li>\n<li>Strengthens India&#8217;s growing AI market and digital infrastructure.<\/li>\n<li>Positions India in trusted global tech ecosystem.<\/li>\n<li>Reduces over-dependence on single suppliers like China.<\/li>\n<li>Aligns with India&#8217;s semiconductor ambitions and innovation goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Strategic Benefits for India<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Collaboration on AI, semiconductors, advanced manufacturing projects.<\/li>\n<li>Attracts investments, joint ventures from member countries.<\/li>\n<li>Enhances export opportunities in tech and critical minerals.<\/li>\n<li>Bolsters national security through resilient supply chains.<\/li>\n<li>Leverages India&#8217;s talent pool and market size for mutual gains.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>India&#8217;s Key Challenges and Concerns<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Navigating US export controls and technology restrictions.<\/li>\n<li>Balancing relations with non-members like China.<\/li>\n<li>Ensuring domestic industry protection and preferential treatment.<\/li>\n<li>Addressing expectation gaps with high-income Pax Silica nations.<\/li>\n<li>Managing potential export regulations and compliance burdens.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Road Ahead: A Bipolar Tech Order?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pax Silica may deepen global tech divide (US-led vs China-led).<\/li>\n<li>Creates parallel supply chains excluding rivals.<\/li>\n<li>India as first major developing nation could bridge or choose side.<\/li>\n<li>Risks entrenching bipolarity in AI, semiconductors.<\/li>\n<li>Opportunity for India to shape inclusive, multi-aligned framework.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">5. Indian Skimmer<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS Paper III-Environment<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context : <\/strong>BNHS launched &#8220;Safeguarding breeding habitats of Indian Skimmer&#8221; project with NMCG in Dehradun on Jan 18, 2026, inaugurated by Jal Shakti Minister C R Patil.\u200b<br \/>\nTargets Ganga Basin sandbars via monitoring and community guardians, building on Chambal success amid population decline.\u200b<img decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3877 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-21-140922.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"331\" height=\"182\" \/><\/p>\n<p><strong>Species Profile<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>One of three Rynchops skimmers (family Laridae), named for low-flight fish-skimming feeding style.\u200b<br \/>\nIUCN Endangered; sharp decline from habitat loss, dams, sand mining, predation.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Physical Traits<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Black upper body, white underbelly, orange beak with elongated lower mandible for surface skimming.\u200b<br \/>\nLong angular wings enable precise, fast flight over water.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Habitat Preferences<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Large sandy lowland rivers, lakes, marshes; estuaries\/coasts in non-breeding season.\u200b<br \/>\nKey Indian site: Chambal River; also Upper Ganga (Bijnor-Narora), Prayagraj, Vikramshila.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Distribution Range<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Native to South Asia: India, Bangladesh, Pakistan; extends to Nepal, Myanmar.\u200b<br \/>\nGanga Basin focus protects sympatric species like River Tern, Black-bellied Tern.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Major Threats<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>River habitat loss and sandbar degradation\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Unplanned dam water releases disrupting nests\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Sand mining, human\/livestock disturbance\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Predation on eggs\/chicks\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conservation Strategy<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Trains locals as Nest\/River Guardians for monitoring, threat reduction, data collection.\u200b<br \/>\nExpands Chambal model to Ganga stretches; creates livelihoods for sustained stewardship.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">6. Why only female Darwin\u2019s bark spiders weave the toughest webs .<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS Paper III \u2013 Environment &amp; Energy<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context <\/strong>:Scientists from China, Madagascar, Slovenia, and US published 2026 research on Darwin&#8217;s Bark Spider (Caerostris darwini) and C. kuntneri, analyzing conditions for their exceptionally tough silk production.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Spider Profile<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Orb-weaver (Araneidae family) famous for world&#8217;s largest\/toughest webs (up to 2.8m\u00b2, 25m bridge lines).<br \/>\nDiscovered 2001, described 2009; named for Charles Darwin&#8217;s Madagascar connections.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Physical Traits<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Females 2-2.5cm body length (males much smaller); dark brown mottled bark camouflage.<br \/>\nShort lifespan typical of orb-weavers; females outlive males post-mating.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Habitat Range<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Endemic to Madagascar&#8217;s riverine forests, wetlands; uniquely builds webs over fast-flowing water.<br \/>\nUnlike typical orb-weavers, avoids vegetation for aquatic insect prey capture.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Silk Properties<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Toughest biological material known\u2014twice stronger than other spider silks, outperforms steel.<br \/>\nHigh extensibility from proline-rich GPGPQ motifs in novel MaSp4 proteins.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Web Architecture<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Giant orb webs span rivers (diameters 25m+), supported by bridge lines up to 82ft long.<br \/>\nSimple capture spirals with few radials optimized for semi-aquatic insect swarms.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Ecological Role<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Controls aquatic insect populations (mayflies, dragonflies) emerging from rivers.<br \/>\nBiomimicry potential for ultra-strong, lightweight synthetic fibers.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">7. How reusability can lead to sustainable cost-effective access to space<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-science and technology<\/p>\n<p>Context :The space industry is undergoing a tectonic shift. For decades, space was the exclusive playground of powerful governments, but today, we are witnessing the dawn of the\u00a0<strong>Commercial Space Era<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Big Picture: From Monopoly to Commercial Era<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Historical Monopoly:<\/strong>\u00a0Space was once a high-risk, high-cost domain restricted to superpowers (USA\/USSR) for national pride and security.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Commercial Shift:<\/strong>\u00a0Private entities like SpaceX and Blue Origin are now leading, treating space access as a logistics business rather than just a scientific feat.<\/li>\n<li><strong>The &#8220;New Space&#8221; Economy:<\/strong>\u00a0This shift has democratized access, allowing startups and smaller nations to launch satellites for communication, climate monitoring, and research.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key Driver: Reusable Rocket Technology<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Cost Disruption:<\/strong>\u00a0Traditional rockets were &#8220;expendable,&#8221; meaning millions of dollars of hardware were thrown away after a single 10-minute use.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Aviation Parallel:<\/strong>\u00a0Reusability treats a rocket like an airplane; you don&#8217;t throw away a Boeing 747 after one flight, you just refuel it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why Space Launch is Inherently Expensive<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Crewed vs. Uncrewed Missions:<\/strong>\u00a0Crewed missions require heavy life-support systems, redundant safety backups, and re-entry shielding, making them 10x\u2013100x more expensive.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Physics Constraints:<\/strong>\u00a0To reach orbit, a rocket must travel at nearly\u00a0<strong>28,000 km\/h<\/strong>, requiring immense energy and specialized materials to survive the heat and pressure.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>The Core Problem: Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The fundamental math governing flight is the Tsiolkovsky Rocket Equation:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The &#8220;Tyranny&#8221; of the Equation:<\/strong>\u00a0To increase velocity (), you must add fuel. But fuel has mass, which requires\u00a0<em>more<\/em>\u00a0fuel to lift, creating an exponential &#8220;mass penalty.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li><strong>Key Insight:<\/strong>\u00a0About\u00a0<strong>90%<\/strong>\u00a0of a rocket\u2019s initial mass is just fuel; the actual payload (satellite\/crew) is often less than\u00a0<strong>2-5%<\/strong>\u00a0of the total weight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Why Rockets Have Multiple Stages<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Shedding Dead Weight:<\/strong>\u00a0Once a fuel tank is empty, it becomes &#8220;dead mass&#8221; that hinders acceleration.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Efficiency:<\/strong>\u00a0Staging allows the rocket to drop empty tanks and heavy engines, letting the smaller upper stage accelerate much more efficiently in the vacuum of space.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Reusable Rockets: The Game Changer<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Economic Impact:<\/strong>\u00a0Reusing the first stage (the most expensive part) can reduce launch costs by up to\u00a0<strong>65-80%<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>How They Land:<\/strong>\u00a0After separation, the booster uses\u00a0<strong>Grid Fins<\/strong>\u00a0for steering, performs a\u00a0<strong>&#8220;Boostback Burn&#8221;<\/strong>\u00a0to return, and uses\u00a0<strong>Landing Legs<\/strong>\u00a0for a vertical &#8220;propulsive landing.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Next Step: Fully Reusable Rockets<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>The Goal:<\/strong>\u00a0Current rockets (like Falcon 9) only reuse the booster. The next frontier is reusing the\u00a0<strong>Upper Stage<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0<strong>Fairings<\/strong>\u00a0as well.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Starship Era:<\/strong>\u00a0Vehicles like SpaceX\u2019s\u00a0<strong>Starship<\/strong>\u00a0aim for 100% reusability, potentially bringing costs down to under\u00a0<strong>$100 per kg<\/strong>\u00a0(from $10,000\/kg in the 1990s).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Where Does India Stand?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>RLV-TD Success:<\/strong>\u00a0ISRO has successfully tested its\u00a0<strong>Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD)<\/strong>, named\u00a0<strong>Pushpak<\/strong>, including autonomous runway landings.<\/li>\n<li><strong>ADMIRE Testbed:<\/strong>\u00a0India is developing vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) technologies to mimic the success of the Falcon 9 boosters.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What Should India Do Going Forward?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Scale Up Production:<\/strong>\u00a0Transition from &#8220;Demonstrators&#8221; to operational reusable heavy-lift vehicles (like the NGLV\u2014Next Generation Launch Vehicle).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Private Collaboration:<\/strong>\u00a0Encourage Indian startups (e.g., Skyroot, Agnikul) to develop low-cost, reusable micro-launchers to capture the global small-satellite market.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Infrastructure:<\/strong>\u00a0Build dedicated landing zones and sea-based recovery platforms to support high-frequency reusable launches.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">8. India launched Responsible Nations Index (RNI) 2026<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>India launched Responsible Nations Index (RNI) 2026 at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, under World Intellectual Foundation (WIF), graced by former President Ram Nath Kovind.\u200b<br \/>\nIndia ranks 16th (score 0.5515) among 154 countries, topping Asian nations ahead of South Korea (21st).\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Index Framework<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Global composite assessing ethical governance, social well-being, environmental stewardship, global responsibility beyond GDP\/power metrics.\u200b<br \/>\nShifts to responsibility-centric evaluation via 4 pillars, promoting policy introspection.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Core Pillars<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Ethical governance and institutional integrity\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Social well-being and inclusiveness\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Environmental responsibility\/sustainability\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Global cooperation and international conduct\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Top Rankings<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Singapore (1st, 0.619), Switzerland (2nd), Denmark (3rd), Cyprus (4th), Sweden (5th).\u200b<br \/>\n9\/10 top countries European; Central African Republic last (154th, 0.357).\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>India&#8217;s Performance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>16th globally (0.5515), ahead of France (17th), Germany (12th), US (66th), China (68th).\u200b<br \/>\nTop Asian nation, reflecting balanced internal\/environmental\/global responsibility.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Launch Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>3-year research by WIF with JNU, IIM Mumbai contributions; NK Singh chaired expert panel.\u200b<br \/>\nAnnual RNI Report released to foster ethical benchmarking, global dialogue.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Strategic Significance<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Complements SDGs, climate goals; encourages responsibility over competition.\u200b<br \/>\nRedefines success via moral values, humanitarian outcomes for sustainable progress<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. Safe City Project GS paper III-Science and technology Context :In January 2026, Delhi Police launched the Safe<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3895,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3875","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_Safe_City_Project_w.png",1024,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Safe_City_Project_w-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Safe_City_Project_w-300x300.png",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Safe_City_Project_w-768x768.png",640,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Safe_City_Project_w.png",640,640,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Safe_City_Project_w.png",1024,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Safe_City_Project_w.png",1024,1024,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Safe_City_Project_w-825x575.png",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_Safe_City_Project_w-590x410.png",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\/3875","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=3875"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3875\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3878,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3875\/revisions\/3878"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3895"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3875"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3875"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3875"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}