UniFocus IAS ( UNIFOCUS UNIVERSAL )

An international team of scientists led by researchers at the University of Kentucky Martin-Gatton College of Agriculture, Food and Environment  reported that  " Belgica antarctica " - the Continent’s Only Insect is consuming microplastics. It was published in  the journal  Science of the Total Environment. Belgica antarctica, the Antarctic midge, is a species of flightless midge, endemic to the continent of Antarctica. At a length of 2–6 mm (0.08–0.2 in), it is the largest purely terrestrial animal native to the continent. It also has the smallest known insect genome as of 2014, with only 99 million base pairs (Mbp) of nucleotides and about 13,500 genes. It is the only insect that can survive year-round in Antarctica. Microplastics are   any fragment of plastic that is between 1 nanometer and 5 millimetres wide( UNEP ). SciTechDaily Wikipedia Wiley Online About Microplastics - UNEP 

NATO’s largest military exercise of 2026 is currently underway across Central Europe. The exercise was officially launched by Allied Command Operations (ACO) on Thursday (15 January 2026). The exercise marks the first deployment of the Allied Reaction Force (ARF), within the area of responsibility of Joint Force Command Brunssum. Approximately 10,000 servicemen and women from 11 nations, including Allied Reaction Force units from Bulgaria, Czechia, Germany, Greece, Italy, Lithuania, Spain, and Türkiye, as well as personnel from Belgium, France and the United Kingdom, who are linking national exercise activities with Steadfast Dart, will participate in the exercise. The exercise will demonstrate the operational and strategic capabilities of the NATO force and other participating units, integrating land, air, space, cyber, maritime, and special operations forces. NATO News

The Paripoorna Mediclaim Ayush Bima has been launched by the Department of Financial Services (DFS), Ministry of Finance  today  for CGHS beneficiaries. It offers cashless facilities, modern treatments and access to a wide network of hospitals. Eligibility and Coverage: The policy is exclusively available to CGHS beneficiaries with a maximum of six members per policy. It provides indemnity-based in-patient hospitalization coverage within India, with sum insured options of ₹10 Lakh or ₹20 Lakh. Product will have Co-payment component allowing beneficiaries to choose between 70:30 or 50:50 co-sharing between insurance company and the subscribers. Key Features: Room rent is capped at 1% and 2% of Sum Insured per day for Normal Room and ICU respectively. A pre-hospitalization coverage for 30 days and post-hospitalization coverage for 60 days is available. AYUSH treatments are covered up to 100% of the sum insured for in-patient hospitalization. Modern treatment is covered up to 25%...

  The 6th ASEAN–India Digital Ministers’ (ADGMIN) Meeting was held virtually today, reaffirming the shared commitment of ASEAN Member States and India to deepen cooperation in the digital domain. The meeting was co-chaired by Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary, Department of Telecommunications, Government of India, and Shri Nguyen Manh Hung, Minister of Science and Technology of Viet Nam. The ADGMIN is an annual forum of Telecom and Digital Ministers from the 11 ASEAN Member States: Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Viet Nam along with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners including Australia, Canada, China, the European Union, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea, New Zealand, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States. The meeting deliberated on key issues aimed at strengthening regional digital cooperation, with a focus on digital inclusion and integration. The Meeting acknowledged the adoption of the ASEAN–India Joint...

  India and Germany have signed a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDI) on Telecommunications Cooperation during the official visit of Mr. Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, to India from 12–13 January 2026. The Joint Declaration was signed by Shri Amit Agrawal, Secretary (Telecom) on behalf of the Government of India, and Dr. Philipp Ackermann, German Ambassador to India, on behalf of the Government of Germany. The JDI was signed as one of the key outcomes of the engagements between the Prime Minister of India and the Federal Chancellor of Germany. The Declaration was concluded between the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Government of India, and the Federal Ministry for Digital Transformation and Government Modernisation (BMDS), Government of the Federal Republic of Germany. The Joint Declaration reflects the shared commitment of both countries to deepen bilateral cooperation in the fields of telecommunications and Information and Communicat...

Following up the release of population estimation result of first round by the Prime Minister in the National Board for Wild Life (NBWL) at Gir in March last year, and to take forward the conservation of Dolphins in the country, the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change rolled out the second rangewide estimation of riverine and estuarine dolphins under Project Dolphin today from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. The survey commenced with 26 researchers in three boats, recording ecological and habitat parameters, and using technologies such as hydrophones for underwater acoustic monitoring. In the first phase, the survey will cover the main stem of the Ganga from Bijnor to Ganga Sagar and the Indus River. In the second phase, it will cover Brahmaputra, the tributaries of the Ganga, the Sundarbans, and Odisha. Apart from the Ganges River Dolphin, the survey will assess the status of the Indus River Dolphin and Irrawaddy Dolphins, along with habitat condition, threats, and associa...

India today launched the  Responsible Nations Index (RNI)  at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, under the aegis of the World Intellectual Foundation (WIF). The Index introduces a comprehensive global framework for assessing nations on parameters such as ethical governance, social well-being, environmental stewardship, and global responsibility, going beyond conventional indicators of power and economic prosperity. The Responsible Nations Index is the outcome of a three-year academic and policy research initiative led by the World Intellectual Foundation, with key scholarly contributions from  Jawaharlal Nehru University  and  Indian Institute of Management Mumbai . PIB

The Council today adopted two decisions authorising the signature of the  EU-Mercosur Partnership Agreement (EMPA)  and of the  Interim Trade Agreement (iTA)  between the EU and Mercosur. Together, these agreements mark an important milestone in the EU’s long-standing relationship with Mercosur partners – Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay. Once in force, they will establish a framework for political dialogue, cooperation and trade relations within a  modernised and comprehensive partnership . The agreements will require the  consent of the European Parliament before they can be formally concluded  by the Council. Ratification by all EU member states will also be required for the EMPA to enter into force. EU-Mercosur partnership agreement The EMPA brings together  political dialogue, cooperation and comprehensive sectoral engagement  under a single framework. It also includes a trade and investment pillar, which will become fully applica...

Features:  1.   It  can replicate itself through seeds. Its reproduced seeds reported to preserve high-yield traits generation after generation. 2. This  hybrid rice is capable of near-perfect clonal reproduction through apomixis – a process in which seeds develop without fertilisation. 3 It was reported that this rice variety had  99.7 per cent cloning efficiency. South China Morning Post

District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (SDI) DRDO conducts successful ground test of full scale actively cooled long duration Scramjet Engine for Hypersonic Missile Programme Mandatory Levy of Service Charge by Restaurants Violates Consumer Law: CCPA India and Germany deepen Cooperation in Postal, Express and Logistics Services NOTIFICATION OF NATIONAL SPORTS GOVERNANCE (NATIONAL SPORTS BODIES) RULES, 2026

The Ministry of Textiles has unveiled the District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) initiative, a strategic initiative designed to catalyze inclusive and sustainable growth across India's textile landscape, in the National Textile Ministers Conference today in Guwahati . By shifting to a sector-specific, district-level approach, the Ministry aims to transform 100 high-potential districts into Global Export Champions and elevate 100 Aspirational Districts into self-reliant hubs. The Ministry analyzed all districts using a data-driven scoring methodology based on three key parameters - Export Performance, MSME Ecosystem Workforce Presence. This was then designed into two-pronged strategy where districts were categorized into Champion Districts and Aspirational Districts. The plan follows a tailored implementation framework based on a district’s category: Champion Districts (Scale & Sophistication): These districts will focus on removing advanced bottlenecks. Interventions inclu...

The Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India (OPSA) and the Observer Research Foundation (ORF) have announced a partnership for the inaugural edition of the Raisina Science Diplomacy Initiative (2026). The initiative will focus on key dimensions of pursuing science and technology diplomacy in an era of strategic autonomy, governing disruptive and emerging technologies, and navigating the evolving realities of scientific and technological partnerships in a multipolar world. Contemporary issues such as technology control regimes, research security, and equitable participation in global standards-setting and regulatory processes will form important sub-themes of the initiative. Special emphasis will also be placed on engaging emerging scientific leaders and deep-tech innovators, providing them with opportunities to interact with and build partnerships with international counterparts. The initiative aims to facilitate high-level deliberations among scientists, ...

Defence Research & Development Laboratory (DRDL), the Hyderabad-based laboratory of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has achieved a path-breaking milestone in the development of Hypersonic Missiles. The DRDL successfully conducted an extensive long-duration ground test of its Actively Cooled Scramjet Full Scale Combustor, achieving a run time of over 12 minutes at its state-of-the-art Scramjet Connect Pipe Test (SCPT) Facility on January 09, 2026. This significant achievement builds upon the earlier subscale test conducted on April 25, 2025, for long duration, marking a crucial step forward in Hypersonic Missiles development. The Combustor and test facility were designed and developed by the DRDL and realised by industry partners. The successful test positions India at the forefront of advanced aerospace capabilities. Hypersonic Cruise Missile is capable of exceeding five times the speed of sound (over 6,100 km/hr) for extended periods. The remarkable feat ...

The Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA)   has taken suo motu cognizance against 27 restaurants located across the country for violation of consumer rights and adoption of unfair trade practices under   Section 2(47) of the Consumer Protection Act, 2019 , relating to the mandatory levy of service charge. The action follows the judgment of the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi dated  28 March 2025 , which upheld the Guidelines issued by CCPA on levy of service charge.  The Court held that mandatory collection of service charge by restaurants is contrary to law  and observed that all restaurant establishments are required to adhere to the CCPA guidelines. The Court further affirmed that CCPA is fully empowered to enforce its guidelines in accordance with law. The  Guidelines  to Prevent Unfair Trade Practices and Protection of Consumer Interest with Regard to Levy of Service Charge in Hotels and Restaurants, issued by CCPA  on 4 July 2022, stipula...

India and Germany have taken a significant step towards strengthening bilateral cooperation in the postal, express and logistics sector with the signing and exchange of two key instruments on 12 January 2026 at Ahmedabad, during the visit of the H.E. Mr. Friedrich Merz, Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany to India. The documents signed include: (i) a Joint Declaration of Intent (JDoI) between the Department of Posts, Ministry of Communications, Government of India, and the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, Federal Republic of Germany; and (ii) a Letter of Intent (LoI) between the Department of Posts and Deutsche Post AG, the designated postal operator of Germany. The Joint Declaration of Intent was signed by Ms. Vandita Kaul, Secretary (Posts), on behalf of the Government of India, and Dr. Philipp Ackermann, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to India, on behalf of the Government of Germany. The Letter of Intent was signed by Mr. Jitendra Gu...

The Union Government has notified the National Sports Governance (National Sports Bodies) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025. The Rules provide the framework for the inclusion of Sportspersons of Outstanding Merit, composition of the General Body and Executive Committee, election procedures, and disqualification criteria for members of National Sports Bodies and Regional Sports Federations. The Rules also outline provisions for the National Sports Election Panel and further specify procedures for registration and periodic updating of affiliate units with the National Sports Board. Among the salient provisions, these Rules provide for inclusion of at least four sportspersons of outstanding merit (SOMs) in the General Bodies of National Sports Bodies. For ensuring representation of women SOMs in the General Body, the Rules specifically provide for fifty per cent of women SOMs in the General Body. For ensuring the representation of at least four women in Executive ...

On 1 January 2026, Bulgaria will adopt the euro as its currency, marking an important milestone for the country, for the history of the euro, and for the EU as a whole. This follows a period of intensive preparation and effort by Bulgaria to meet all the necessary requirements. The euro will deliver practical benefits to Bulgarian citizens and businesses. It will make travelling and living abroad easier, boost the transparency and competitiveness of markets, and facilitate trade. Euro banknotes and coins will also become a tangible symbol for all Bulgarians of the freedom, convenience and opportunities that the EU makes possible for its citizens. The Commission has fully supported Bulgaria in the process of joining the euro. With Bulgaria's accession, 21 EU Member States and more than 357 million EU citizens will share the EU's common currency. Public support for the euro in the EU and euro area remains very strong, with broad majorities of EU citizens believing the euro is a g...

Department of Science & Technology (DST) has established 15 Inclusive Technology Business Incubators (i-TBI) across universities and higher educational institutions in different parts of the country, aimed at democratising innovation and entrepreneurship beyond metropolitan centres. The DST-supported i-TBI at DTU operates under the DTU Innovation and Incubation Foundation and focuses on nurturing knowledge-based startups, with special emphasis on women entrepreneurs. The incubator provides comprehensive handholding, from ideation and prototyping to product development and market access, supported by modern infrastructure, mentoring and access to funding support. PIB