{"id":3911,"date":"2026-01-27T07:22:32","date_gmt":"2026-01-27T07:22:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/?p=3911"},"modified":"2026-01-27T12:18:50","modified_gmt":"2026-01-27T12:18:50","slug":"current-affairs-27th-january-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/2026\/01\/27\/current-affairs-27th-january-2026\/","title":{"rendered":"Current Affairs 27th January 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">1. India -EU<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper II-IR<\/p>\n<p>Context :India-EU ties gain momentum with EU leaders as Republic Day guests and 16th Summit targeting FTA, Defence Partnership amid multipolar shifts.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Partnership Essence<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Pragmatic alignment replacing reliance on US\/China\/Russia via trade corridors, tech innovation, rules-based order.<\/li>\n<li>Emphasises mutual strategic autonomy respecting domestic priorities.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Trade Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>EU: India&#8217;s top goods partner at $136B (2024-25); services hit $53B record.<\/li>\n<li>FDI stock \u20ac140B; 6,000+ EU firms; 36% merchandise growth outpacing US trade.<\/li>\n<li>Shift to electronics\/machinery\/chemicals via China+1 strategy.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Growth Sectors<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Textiles: 10% EU tariff cut boosts Tiruppur\/Noida vs Bangladesh\/Vietnam.<\/li>\n<li>EVs: EU platforms + India manufacturing for global green chains (BMW\/Audi expansion).<\/li>\n<li>Pharma: Generics\/chemicals meet EU needs, cut China dependence.<\/li>\n<li>Defence: Co-production; India exports ammo to Poland\/Germany.<\/li>\n<li>Digital: TTC harmonises data flow, eases ICT visas to Berlin\/Paris.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key Hurdles<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>CBAM: 20-35% carbon tax hits steel\/aluminium exports from 2026.<\/li>\n<li>Agri\/spirits: EU seeks duty cuts (&gt;100%) vs India&#8217;s farm protection.<\/li>\n<li>Standards: EU labor\/environment rules burden MSME leather\/footwear compliance.<\/li>\n<li>Data: Localisation clashes with EU tech firms&#8217; operations.<\/li>\n<li>Geopolitics: Russia-Ukraine differences cause diplomatic friction.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Forward Path<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Finalise FTA by mid-2026 as protectionism hedge.<\/li>\n<li>Negotiate CBAM grace period\/tech transfer for green shift.<\/li>\n<li>Joint R&amp;D in semiconductors\/cyber\/drones via Defence Pact.<\/li>\n<li>Fast-track IMEC corridor to slash transit costs.<\/li>\n<li>Expand Talent Partnership for India&#8217;s youth in EU labor markets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Strategic Outlook<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>India-EU evolves into trillion-dollar resilient partnership bridging climate\/trade gaps for multipolar stability.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">2. How will U.S exit affaect solar alliance ?<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper II-IR<\/p>\n<p>Context :In January 2026, the United States formally initiated its withdrawal from the\u00a0<strong>International Solar Alliance (ISA)<\/strong>\u00a0and 65 other global organizations under an &#8220;America First&#8221; presidential directive.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Massive U.S. Exit:<\/strong>\u00a0President Trump signed a memorandum on\u00a0<strong>January 7, 2026<\/strong>, to withdraw from 66 international bodies, including the ISA.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Policy Shift:<\/strong>\u00a0The U.S. administration cited these bodies as &#8220;contrary to national interests&#8221; and a waste of taxpayer dollars.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Global Impact:<\/strong>\u00a0This move marks a major retreat from multilateral climate governance and global energy cooperation.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is the International Solar Alliance (ISA)?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Founding:<\/strong>\u00a0Co-founded by\u00a0<strong>India and France<\/strong>\u00a0at the COP21 summit in Paris in 2015.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Mission:<\/strong>\u00a0Aims to mobilize\u00a0<strong>$1 trillion<\/strong>\u00a0in solar investments by 2030 to provide energy access to developing nations.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Membership:<\/strong>\u00a0Currently includes\u00a0<strong>125 member and signatory countries<\/strong>, headquartered in Gurugram, India.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Focus:<\/strong>\u00a0Targets &#8220;sunshine countries&#8221; (between the Tropics) to reduce the cost of solar technology and financing.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Does the U.S. exit hurt ISA financially?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Minimal Impact:<\/strong>\u00a0U.S. financial contributions were only about\u00a0<strong>$2.1 million<\/strong>\u00a0over three years\u2014just\u00a0<strong>1% of total funds<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Operations Continue:<\/strong>\u00a0ISA officials state that day-to-day work, capacity building, and projects will remain unaffected.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strategic Loss:<\/strong>\u00a0While funds are not the issue, the ISA will miss\u00a0<strong>U.S. technical expertise<\/strong>\u00a0and strategic counsel.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Will it affect India&#8217;s solar sector?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Project Stability:<\/strong>\u00a0India\u2019s domestic solar projects are driven by local demand and state utility contracts, not U.S. funding.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Manufacturing Growth:<\/strong>\u00a0India has built massive local capacity (~144 GW for modules), reducing dependence on foreign imports.<\/li>\n<li><strong>No Price Hike:<\/strong>\u00a0Solar power costs and electricity tariffs in India are unlikely to rise due to this diplomatic development.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Will investment in India solar projects slow?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Unlikely:<\/strong>\u00a0Global funds and Indian banks continue to invest based on India&#8217;s strong market fundamentals and growth.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pipeline Intact:<\/strong>\u00a0India added a record\u00a0<strong>37.9 GW of solar<\/strong>\u00a0in 2025, showing irreversible domestic momentum.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Policy Support:<\/strong>\u00a0Schemes like the\u00a0<strong>Approved List of Models and Manufacturers (ALMM)<\/strong>\u00a0continue to shield domestic investment.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Where is the real economic risk?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Global South Vulnerability:<\/strong>\u00a0Poorer nations in Africa and Asia that rely on ISA for cheap loans may see a slowdown in project approvals.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Credit Confidence:<\/strong>\u00a0Large lenders may turn cautious if a major global economy like the U.S. stops backing climate initiatives.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Export Hurdles:<\/strong>\u00a0Indian firms expanding into Africa might find it harder to secure international financing for those foreign ventures.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Geopolitical &amp; Diplomatic Angle<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Leadership Vacuum:<\/strong>\u00a0The U.S. risks ceding influence over clean energy supply chains and diplomacy to\u00a0<strong>China<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>India-U.S. Ties:<\/strong>\u00a0The withdrawal from an India-led initiative signals a shift where U.S. domestic ideology outranks strategic partnerships.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Fragmented Governance:<\/strong>\u00a0The world is entering an &#8220;age of entropy&#8221; where multilateral cooperation becomes more difficult.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Any possible upside for India?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Global Leadership:<\/strong>\u00a0India can further consolidate its role as the primary voice and leader of the\u00a0<strong>Global South<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Export Opportunity:<\/strong>\u00a0As the U.S. slows its own renewable approvals, Indian manufacturers could fill the gap in clean energy equipment.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Strategic Autonomy:<\/strong>\u00a0Reduced diplomatic pressure from the U.S. may give India more space to balance its own development and climate goals.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">3. Padma Awards<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper II-Indian Polity and Governance.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Context : <\/strong>The government announced <strong>131 awards<\/strong> for 2026 on January 25.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The list includes <strong>5 Padma Vibhushan<\/strong>, <strong>13 Padma Bhushan<\/strong>, and <strong>113 Padma Shri<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Prominent names like actor <strong>Dharmendra<\/strong> (Posthumous) were honored.<\/li>\n<li>The awards recognize &#8220;Unsung Heroes&#8221; and excellence across various fields.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What are Padma Awards?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>They are among the highest civilian honors in India.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Padma Vibhushan:<\/strong> For exceptional and distinguished service.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Padma Bhushan:<\/strong> For distinguished service of a high order.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Padma Shri:<\/strong> For distinguished service in any specific field.<\/li>\n<li>They cover Art, Social Work, Science, Sports, Medicine, and more.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>History of Padma Awards<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>The awards were first instituted by the Government of India in <strong>1954<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<li>Originally, they were named &#8220;Pahela Varg,&#8221; &#8220;Dusra Varg,&#8221; and &#8220;Tisra Varg.&#8221;<\/li>\n<li>In <strong>1955<\/strong>, they were renamed Vibhushan, Bhushan, and Shri.<\/li>\n<li>They were briefly suspended twice: 1977\u20131980 and 1992\u20131995.<\/li>\n<li>The awards are announced every year on Republic Day.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Who got the Awards in 2026?<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>Padma Vibhushan (Selected)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Dharmendra Singh Deol (Posthumous):<\/strong> Art (Maharashtra).<\/li>\n<li><strong>K.T. Thomas:<\/strong> Public Affairs (Kerala).<\/li>\n<li><strong>N. Rajam:<\/strong> Art (Uttar Pradesh).<\/li>\n<li><strong>V.S. Achuthanandhan (Posthumous):<\/strong> Public Affairs (Kerala).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Padma Bhushan (Selected)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Mammootty:<\/strong> Art (Kerala).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Alka Yagnik:<\/strong> Art (Maharashtra).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Vijay Amritraj:<\/strong> Sports (USA\/India).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Uday Kotak:<\/strong> Trade and Industry (Maharashtra).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Padma Shri (Selected)<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Rohit Sharma:<\/strong> Sports (Cricket).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Harmanpreet Kaur Bhullar:<\/strong> Sports (Cricket).<\/li>\n<li><strong>R. Madhavan:<\/strong> Art (Cinema).<\/li>\n<li><strong>Prosenjit Chatterjee:<\/strong> Art (Cinema).<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">4. Exominer ++:planet spotter<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS PAPER I-geogrpahy<\/p>\n<p>CONTEXT :<strong>Massive discovery:<\/strong>\u00a0It recently identified\u00a0<strong>7,000 potential exoplanet candidates<\/strong>\u00a0in a single initial run.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>New mission focus:<\/strong>\u00a0The AI has successfully transitioned from analyzing retired Kepler data to active\u00a0<strong>TESS (Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite)<\/strong>\u00a0data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Open Science move:<\/strong>\u00a0NASA released the code for free on\u00a0<strong>GitHub<\/strong>\u00a0in late January 2026, allowing global researchers to use it.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What is ExoMiner++?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Deep Learning Model:<\/strong>\u00a0An advanced neural network designed to vet signals of potential planets orbiting other stars.<\/li>\n<li><strong>NASA Ames Creation:<\/strong>\u00a0Developed by researchers at NASA\u2019s Ames Research Center to automate planet hunting.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Evolution of ExoMiner:<\/strong>\u00a0It\u2019s an &#8220;enhanced&#8221; version of the original 2021 model that validated 370 planets.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>How does it find exoplanets?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Transit Method:<\/strong>\u00a0It scans for tiny, rhythmic dips in a star&#8217;s brightness caused by a planet passing in front of it.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Pattern Recognition:<\/strong>\u00a0It analyzes &#8220;light curves&#8221; (time-series data of brightness) to spot the signature of a planet.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Diagnostic Inputs:<\/strong>\u00a0It evaluates multiple data streams like flux trends, periodograms, and centroid motion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Neural Processing:<\/strong>\u00a0It uses complex layers to distinguish between a real planet and cosmic &#8220;imposters.&#8221;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>What makes ExoMiner++ special?<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Explainable AI:<\/strong>\u00a0Unlike &#8220;black box&#8221; models, scientists can see exactly which data features led the AI to its conclusion.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Transfer Learning:<\/strong>\u00a0It was trained on high-quality\u00a0<strong>Kepler<\/strong>\u00a0data and successfully applied that &#8220;knowledge&#8221; to\u00a0<strong>TESS<\/strong>\u00a0data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Superhuman Accuracy:<\/strong>\u00a0It is more consistent than human experts, who often have subjective biases when looking at noisy data.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Modular Design:<\/strong>\u00a0Its architecture can be easily updated to handle data from future telescopes like\u00a0<strong>Nancy Grace Roman<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Challenges Addressed<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Data Overload:<\/strong>\u00a0It processes hundreds of thousands of signals that would take humans years to manually review.<\/li>\n<li><strong>False Positives:<\/strong>\u00a0It expertly filters out &#8220;imposters&#8221; like eclipsing binary stars or background stellar noise.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Noisy Data:<\/strong>\u00a0It successfully identifies planets even in the &#8220;noisier&#8221; and more ambiguous datasets produced by TESS.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Limited Resources:<\/strong>\u00a0It allows for &#8220;gold-standard&#8221; science with minimal manual intervention, maximizing mission ROI.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">5. Nihilist Penguin<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>The Nihilist Penguin anecdote captures a lone bird&#8217;s quiet rejection of the herd&#8217;s survival march into Antarctica&#8217;s icy void, mirroring modern existential disquiet.<\/p>\n<p><strong>The Solitary Rejection<img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-3912 alignright\" src=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-27-125122-300x264.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"333\" height=\"293\" srcset=\"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-27-125122-300x264.png 300w, https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Screenshot-2026-01-27-125122.png 562w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 333px) 100vw, 333px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>One penguin defies thousands heading seaward for food and safety, calmly walking inland toward mountains.<\/li>\n<li>No rush toward peril or angry revolt\u2014just deliberate steps into silent emptiness, defying biological norms.<\/li>\n<li>Scientists label it an anomaly; filmmakers see a &#8220;death march&#8221;; online viewers find a profound reflection of personal truth.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Echoes in Modern Life<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Resonates with those stuck in unchosen routines, draining careers, and systems prizing obedience over integrity.<\/li>\n<li>Symbolizes when persistence feels burdensome versus pause, optimization dishonest versus release, and quiet more authentic than defense.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Radical Act of Authenticity<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Penguin seeks no glory, only inner alignment amid a world chasing triumph, pace, and group approval.<\/li>\n<li>Teaches that true rebellion lies in stepping aside\u2014not from hopelessness, but loyalty to unspoken personal reality, destination unknown.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">6. Playing hide and seek on employment guarantee<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper III-ECONOMY<\/p>\n<p>Context :VB-G RAM G Act undermines MGNREGA&#8217;s core rights-based framework by introducing discretionary provisions, fixed funding, and centralised control.<\/p>\n<p><strong>False Promise of More Workdays<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Claims 100 to 125 guaranteed days, but Section 5(1) limits to Centre-notified areas only.<\/li>\n<li>Converts universal legal entitlement into selective administrative privilege.<\/li>\n<li>States already extended days under MGNREGA; no need for new Act.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Unnecessary Disentitlement Fix<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Removes rarely-used clause suspending allowance for refusing offered work.<\/li>\n<li>Change has zero practical impact on worker access or benefits.<\/li>\n<li>Exaggerated as major reform to mask substantive weaknesses.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Shift to Fixed Budgets<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Replaces demand-driven funding with Centre-determined normative allocations.<\/li>\n<li>Creates de facto spending caps, discouraging full employment response.<\/li>\n<li>No evidence better-off States get disproportionate MGNREGA funds.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Digital Cure-All Fallacy<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Promises corruption reduction via more digital tools already in MGNREGA.<\/li>\n<li>Existing systems cause delays, exclusions, technical glitches.<\/li>\n<li>Ignores how poor tech erodes transparency and worker trust.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Rebranding Old Features<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Audit strengthening, timely payments mirror existing MGNREGA provisions.<\/li>\n<li>Masks policy continuity as innovation for political narrative.<\/li>\n<li>Increases central control, reduces State\/community oversight.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Conclusion<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Act weakens universality, caps demand-responsive work, over-relies on flawed digitisation\u2014substantive reform needs wage hikes and rights protection.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">7. India biggest climate gap could be language<\/span><\/h2>\n<p>GS paper I-Geography<\/p>\n<p>CONTEXT :India&#8217;s climate communication fails when scientific jargon disconnects from local realities, narrowing complex concepts like Loss and Damage into mere disaster aid.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Narrowing of Loss and Damage<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Originally covers irreversible losses (culture, biodiversity) beyond adaptation limits.<\/li>\n<li>Bureaucratic use reduces it to post-disaster compensation, ignoring slow-onset harms.<\/li>\n<li>Turns global ethical commitments into routine local relief funding.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Data Overload, Action Gap<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Massive climate data exists but doesn&#8217;t guide real decisions due to complex models.<\/li>\n<li>Local officials get technical reports unfit for urgent, practical use.<\/li>\n<li>Communities receive inconsistent messages irrelevant to daily constraints.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Communication as Core System<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Treated as add-on, not infrastructure like shelters or sensors.<\/li>\n<li>Heat alerts ignore informal workers; flood warnings assume smartphone access.<\/li>\n<li>Success builds trust, translates risks into health\/income impacts for action.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Practical Communication Model<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Link projections to choices: work shifts, health plans, transport routes.<\/li>\n<li>Localise in regional languages; humanise via farmers&#8217;\/workers&#8217; experiences.<\/li>\n<li>Co-create with frontline staff, leaders, media for decision-fit information.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Final Takeaway<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Effective language bridges science to action, recognising all losses and enabling resilience; poor communication traps knowledge in unused reports.<\/p>\n<h2><\/h2>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"><strong>8. Narayan Ramachandran Committee (SAARG)<\/strong><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Narayan Ramachandran Committee (SAARG)<\/strong>\u00a0strengthens NPS investments through expert-led reforms, benchmarking global standards for subscriber wealth creation.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Committee Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>High-level expert panel, Strategic Asset Allocation and Risk Governance (SAARG), reviews NPS guidelines for government\/non-government sectors.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Constituted by PFRDA; chaired by Narayan Ramachandran (ex-Morgan Stanley India CEO).\u200b<\/li>\n<li>9-month timeline to submit modernization recommendations.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Core Objectives<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Align NPS architecture with global pension systems and India&#8217;s evolving markets for long-term retirement growth.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Enhance diversification, risk management, and subscriber choices via comprehensive investment reforms.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Mandate Highlights<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Benchmark current guidelines against leading global pensions; assess asset class expansion.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Optimize equity\/debt\/alternatives allocation with prudential limits.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Reform pension fund performance metrics, accountability, and risk frameworks (market\/credit\/liquidity).\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Strengthen governance, intermediaries, ALM practices, alternative valuations, and portfolio liquidity.\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Integrate sustainability: Embed climate risks, net-zero pathways in asset selection.\u200b<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>Key Members<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Narayan Ramachandran (Chairman, ex-Morgan Stanley).\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Ananth Narayan (ex-SEBI); Devina Mehra (First Global); Kalpen Parekh (DSP MF).\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Prashant Jain (3P Investments); Rajeev Thakkar (PPFAS); Raamdeo Agrawal (Motilal Oswal).\u200b<\/li>\n<li>Sankaran Naren (ICICI Pru); Sumit Agrawal (Regstreet); Ashok Kumar Soni (PFRDA ED)<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"text-decoration: underline;\">9. Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme<\/span><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Context :<\/strong>Union Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia laid the foundation stone for the \u20b980 crore Agarwood Value Chain Development Scheme in Tripura&#8217;s North Fulkabari on January 24, 2026.<br \/>\nScheme boosts Northeast&#8217;s agarwood economy, aligns with PM Modi&#8217;s &#8216;Local to Global&#8217; vision, and targets 50% production increase in Tripura.<\/p>\n<p><strong>What is Agarwood :<\/strong>Agarwood is fragrant, dark resinous heartwood from Aquilaria trees infected by fungus or injured.<br \/>\nForms as tree&#8217;s defense response, producing valuable oleoresin with sesquiterpenoids and chromones.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Why Valuable :<\/strong>Resin forms slowly over 10-20 years, with rarity and quality variation driving high demand.\u200b<br \/>\nUsed in luxury perfumes, incense; priced like &#8216;liquid gold&#8217; due to global markets in Middle East, Asia.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Important Mechanism :<\/strong>Fungal infection (e.g., Fusarium oxysporum, Aspergillus) or injury triggers resin deposition in wood.<br \/>\nTree produces secondary metabolites as defense; artificial inoculation mimics for commercial production.\u200b\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Botanical Characteristics :<\/strong>Evergreen trees of Aquilaria genus (e.g., A. malaccensis, A. sinensis); fast-growing, native to tropics.<br \/>\nSoft, dark heartwood forms post-infection; healthy wood lacks resin.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Global Distribution:<\/strong>Native to Southeast Asia: India, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Philippines.\u200b<br \/>\nAlso in China (Yunnan, Hainan), Papua New Guinea; wild populations declining due to overexploitation.<\/p>\n<p><strong>India Distribution<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Concentrated in Northeast: Tripura, Assam, Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram; ~150 million trees, 90% in region.<br \/>\nCultivated widely; wild limited to ~92,000 sq km extent.\u200b<\/p>\n<p><strong>Uses of Agarwood<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Incense, perfumes (oud oil), traditional medicines for stress, digestion.<br \/>\nAromatherapy, cosmetics, skincare; cultural\/spiritual in temples, gourmet flavoring.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Policy Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>\u20b980 crore scheme builds end-to-end value chain: 2 Central Processing Centres in Tripura, Assam for processing\/branding.<br \/>\nGI tag process, 6-fold export quota hike (chips 25k to 1.5L kg, oil 1.5k to 7.5k kg), digital permissions eliminate middlemen.<br \/>\nTargets \u20b92,000 crore Tripura turnover in 3-4 years via buyer-seller meets, ODOP alignment<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>1. India -EU GS paper II-IR Context :India-EU ties gain momentum with EU leaders as Republic Day guests<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":3915,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3911","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_India_-EU_website_.png",1024,1024,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_India_-EU_website_-150x150.png",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_India_-EU_website_-300x300.png",300,300,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_India_-EU_website_-768x768.png",640,640,true],"large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_India_-EU_website_.png",640,640,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_India_-EU_website_.png",1024,1024,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_India_-EU_website_.png",1024,1024,false],"morenews-large":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_India_-EU_website_-825x575.png",825,575,true],"morenews-medium":["https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/a_India_-EU_website_-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\/3911","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=3911"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3911\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3913,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3911\/revisions\/3913"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3915"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3911"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3911"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/arkreflectionsias.com\/studentportal\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3911"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}