UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 January 2026

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 January 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 2:

• India Emerges as a Global Cooperative Powerhouse

India Emerges as a Global Cooperative Powerhouse

GS Paper 3:

• Agri Subsidy and Need for Reform

Agri Subsidy and Need for Reform

Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

• Domestic workers do not need a separate law

Domestic workers do not need a separate law

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

• Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme

Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme

• Second range-wide Dolphin Survey

Second range-wide Dolphin Survey

• BRICS Plus naval exercise

BRICS Plus naval exercise

• UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty

UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty

• 80 years of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

80 years of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

• Microscopic crustacean

Microscopic crustacean

Mapping:

• First open-sea Marine Fish Farming Project in Andaman Sea

First open-sea Marine Fish Farming Project in Andaman Sea

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 January 2026

GS Paper 2 :

India Emerges as a Global Cooperative Powerhouse

Source: NIE

Subject: Devolution of Powers to Local Levels.

Context: The United Nations has declared 2025 as the International Year of Cooperatives (IYC), highlighting India’s emergence as a global leader with over 8.5 lakh registered cooperatives and a renewed policy focus under the vision of “Sahkar Se Samriddhi.”

About India Emerges as a Global Cooperative Powerhouse:

Key Data and Statistics on Indian Cooperatives:

• Scale: India accounts for approximately 27% of all cooperatives worldwide, making it one of the largest organized economic networks globally.

• Membership: As of late 2025, there are nearly 32 crore members, covering roughly 98% of rural India across 30 different sectors.

• Functional Strength: Out of 8.5 lakh registered societies, approximately 6.6 lakh are fully operational, including nearly 80,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies (PACS).

• Financial Inclusion: The sector includes 1,457 urban cooperative banks holding assets worth ₹7.38 trillion and deposits of roughly ₹5.84 trillion as of March 2025.

• Women Empowerment: Through links with Self-Help Groups (SHGs), the cooperative framework has integrated nearly 10 crore women into the organized economy.

Importance of Cooperatives in India:

• Grassroots Credit Access: They provide essential short-term liquidity to farmers who may be underserved by commercial banks.

E.g. PACS are being computerized to link directly with NABARD, ensuring transparent and easy credit flow to remote villages.

• Market Integration for Small Producers: Cooperatives aggregate small-scale produce to give farmers better bargaining power and market reach.

E.g. Amul (GCMMF) connects millions of milk producers directly to a global supply chain, ensuring fair pricing.

• Food Security and Storage: They play a vital role in decentralizing grain storage to reduce post-harvest losses.

E.g. The World’s Largest Grain Storage Plan has already completed godowns in 112 PACS to create 68,702 MT of local storage capacity.

• Promoting Sustainable Livelihoods: Cooperatives allow for the diversification of income through allied activities like fisheries and organics.

E.g. National Cooperative Organics Limited (NCOL) helps farmers transition to organic farming by providing “Bharat Organics” branding and pesticide testing.

• Affordable Service Delivery: They act as multi-service hubs providing essential goods and healthcare at the village level.

E.g. Over 800 PACS have been assigned store codes to operate as Pradhan Mantri Bhartiya Janaushadhi Kendras, providing low-cost medicines to rural residents.

Key Initiatives Taken for Cooperatives

• Digitalization & ERP: A ₹2,925 crore project to computerize PACS using a common national software (ERP) available in 14 languages to ensure real-time auditing.

• Establishment of Apex Multi-State Societies: Creation of three new national bodies: NCEL (Exports), NCOL (Organics), and BBSSL (Seeds) to provide end-to-end support to primary societies.

• White Revolution 2.0: A strategic plan to increase milk procurement by 50% in five years by setting up 20,070 new Dairy Cooperative Societies across 31 States/UTs.

• Legislative and Fiscal Reforms: Reducing the cooperative surcharge from 12% to 7% and enabling PACS to undertake 25+ new business activities under Model Bye-laws.

Success of Cooperatives in India:

• Global Competitiveness: Indian cooperatives are now recognized on the world stage for their scale and professional management.

E.g. 15 Indian entities currently feature in the Global Top 300 rankings of cooperatives based on turnover and impact.

• Export Market Penetration: Cooperatives are successfully moving beyond local markets to international trade.

E.g. National Co-operative Exports Limited (NCEL) recently exported 13.77 LMT of commodities worth over ₹5,500 crore to 28 countries.

• Digital Transformation: The transition from manual ledgers to digital transparency has minimized leakages and improved member trust.

E.g. Nearly 60,000 PACS are now actively using ERP software, with over 34 crore transactions processed digitally.

• Social Inclusivity: The movement has successfully bridged the gap for marginalized sections of society.

E.g. NCDC has disbursed over ₹95,000 crore recently, with dedicated schemes like Nandini Sahakar specifically targeting women-led cooperatives.

Challenges to Cooperatives in India:

• Regional Imbalance: Cooperative growth is concentrated in a few states, leaving others with underdeveloped networks.

E.g. While Maharashtra leads with 2.21 lakh societies, many North-Eastern states still struggle with low cooperative density and functional capacity.

• Infrastructure Gaps: Many primary societies lack the modern hardware or storage facilities needed to be economically viable.

E.g. Despite the storage plan, current capacity remains insufficient for the total national produce, requiring massive scaling beyond the 112 pilot PACS.

• Operational Inefficiency: Older societies often suffer from “Uncle Judge Syndrome” (nepotism) or lack of professional management.

E.g. The need for Tribhuvan Sahkari University highlights the current shortage of a professionally trained workforce specifically for the cooperative sector.

• Financial Constraints: Many cooperatives face high levels of Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) and limited capital for technology adoption.

E.g. Urban Cooperative Banks still require rigorous onboarding to the RBI Integrated Ombudsman Scheme to improve their governance and financial stability.

Way Ahead:

• Universal Professionalization: Establishing Tribhuvan Sahkari University and specialized training modules will create a cadre of professional managers to replace archaic governance with modern business practices.

• Pan-India Expansion: Efforts must be intensified to replicate the successful cooperative models of Maharashtra and Gujarat in Eastern and North-Eastern states to ensure balanced regional development.

• Technological Deepening: Beyond initial computerization, the integration of AI and Blockchain in the National Cooperative Database can ensure end-to-end traceability and fraud-proof auditing for all 8.5 lakh societies.

• Credit-Plus Services: Transforming all functional PACS into Multi-Service Centers will diversify their revenue streams and ensure long-term financial sustainability.

• Global Brand Building: Aggressively scaling the “Bharat” brand for seeds and organics through the NCEL will allow small Indian farmers to capture a larger share of the high-value global export market.

Conclusion:

India’s cooperative sector has transformed into a broad economic pillar supporting nearly one-fourth of the world’s cooperatives. Digital reforms and new export and organic institutions are empowering 32 crore members at the grassroots. As the world marks the International Year of Cooperatives 2025, India offers a global model of inclusive, collective-led development.

Q. Illustrate the role of cooperatives in achieving sustainable development. (150 words)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 January 2026 GS Paper 3:

Agri Subsidy and Need for Reform

Source: IE

Subject: Agriculture

Context: Recent discussions in the 2026 Union Budget cycle focus on rationalizing food and fertilizer subsidies—which account for roughly 8.5% of the total budget—by potentially merging them into an augmented PM-Kisan scheme.

About Agri Subsidy and Need for Reform:

What it is?

• Agricultural subsidies are financial aids provided by the government to farmers to reduce input costs (fertilizers, power, seeds) or ensure price stability (MSP).

• Reform is needed because the current “blanket” approach leads to environmental degradation, soil toxicity from urea overuse, and skewed crop choices that favor cereals over nutritious pulses and oilseeds.

Trends and Data on Agri Subsidy:

• Total Outlay: For FY 2025-26, the combined food and fertilizer subsidy is pegged at approximately ₹3.71 lakh crore.

• Food Subsidy Bill: Expected to touch ₹2.03 lakh crore, covering nearly 56% of the population (813 million people).

• Fertilizer Subsidy Bill: Allocated at ₹1.67 lakh crore, making it the second-largest subsidy component in the Union budget.

• MSP tripling: MSP payouts have more than tripled over the last decade, reaching ₹3.33 lakh crore by June 2025.

• Input Imbalance: India’s import dependency for raw materials like potash and phosphate remains high at 90% and 60% respectively, driving up the subsidy burden.

Importance of Subsidies in Indian Agriculture:

• Ensuring Food Security: Subsidies keep staples affordable for the underprivileged under the NFSA and PMGKAY.

E.g. The PM Garib Kalyan Yojana provides 5kg of free grains to 813 million people, shielding them from food inflation.

• Shielding from Global Volatility: Input subsidies protect farmers from sudden spikes in international raw material prices.

E.g. In 2025, the government provided a special package of ₹3,500/t for DAP to keep the MRP stable despite rising global phosphoric acid costs.

• Encouraging Crop Diversification: Targeted subsidies help shift focus from paddy/wheat to oilseeds and pulses.

E.g. Under the Mission on Pulses, 100% of tur, urad, and masur production is being procured at MSP to achieve self-sufficiency by 2027.

• Promoting Modern Technology: Financial aid reduces the barrier to entry for high-tech farming equipment.

E.g. The Sub-Mission on Agricultural Mechanization provides 40-50% subsidies on drones and automated sprayers to marginal farmers in 2025-26.

• Climate Resilience: Subsidies for micro-irrigation and solar power help farmers adapt to erratic monsoons.

E.g. PM-KUSUM has solarized 49 lakh agricultural pumps by early 2026, reducing diesel dependency and lowering operational costs.

Initiatives Taken for Reform:

• Digitalization of PACS: A ₹2,925 crore project to computerize nearly 80,000 Primary Agricultural Credit Societies for transparent credit delivery.

• Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) Expansion: Inclusion of new fortified fertilizer grades (e.g., Magnesium and Zinc) to promote soil health over pure Nitrogen (Urea) use.

• PM-PRANAM Scheme: Incentivizing States to reduce chemical fertilizer use by sharing 50% of the subsidy savings as a grant for alternative fertilizers.

• DBT Integration: Transferring over ₹3.7 lakh crore directly to 11 crore farmers under PM-Kisan, eliminating middleman leakages.

Challenges to Agri Subsidies:

• Skewed Nutrient Use: Massive urea subsidies lead to a N:P:K ratio far from the ideal 4:2:1, causing soil toxicity.

E.g. In North-West India, excessive urea application has contaminated groundwater and depleted soil organic carbon to critical levels in 2025.

• High Fiscal Burden: Subsidies consume nearly 10% of the total budget, leaving less for long-term R&D.

E.g. The ₹2 trillion fertilizer subsidy in 2025-26 dwarfed the entire budget of the Ministry of Agriculture (₹1.37 trillion).

• WTO Compliance Issues: India often nears the 10% de minimis limit for trade-distorting Amber Box subsidies.

E.g. Excessive MSP procurement for rice and wheat often attracts challenges from developed nations at WTO ministerial meets.

• Inequitable Distribution: Benefits are often cornered by large farmers in states with robust procurement systems.

E.g. While Punjab and Haryana benefit from nearly 100% procurement, farmers in Eastern India often sell below MSP due to lack of infrastructure.

• Leakage and Mis-targeting: A significant portion of subsidized fertilizers intended for farms is diverted to industrial uses.

E.g. Despite Neem-coating, reports in 2025 suggest nearly 20-25% of urea continues to leak away into non-agricultural sectors.

Way Ahead:

• Merge Food & Fertilizer Subsidies: Gradually consolidate multiple subsidies into a single, higher-value Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) under the PM-Kisan framework.

• Urea Rationalization: Bring Urea under the Nutrient-Based Subsidy (NBS) regime to encourage balanced fertilization and reduce groundwater contamination.

• Targeted PDS Coverage: Gradually reduce the PDS beneficiary list from 56% to focus strictly on the extremely poor (Antyodaya) based on World Bank poverty metrics.

• Invest in “Green Box” Measures: Shift spending from price support to R&D, irrigation, and cold-chain infrastructure, which are WTO-compliant and drive long-term productivity.

• Transform FPS into Nutrition Hubs: Convert Fair Price Shops into centres that provide diverse foods like milk, pulses, and eggs instead of just cereals.

Conclusion:

Reforming India’s agricultural subsidies is now essential for environmental sustainability and fiscal prudence. Shifting from price support to direct income transfers and green investments can empower farmers while aligning with global trade norms. A rational, technology-driven subsidy regime can make agriculture a true engine of growth for Viksit Bharat 2047.

Q14. What are the direct and indirect subsidies provided to farm sector in India? Discuss the issues raised by the World Trade Organization(WTP) in relation to agricultural subsidies. (Answer in 250 words)

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 January 2026 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

Domestic workers do not need a separate law

Context: A committee constituted on the Supreme Court’s directions has concluded that domestic workers do not require a separate law, arguing they are already covered under existing labour codes.

About Domestic workers do not need a separate law:

What it is?

• It refers to the expert committee report (July 2025) submitted to the Union Ministry of Labour and Employment, formed following a Supreme Court order dated 29 January 2025, to examine whether India needs a dedicated legal framework for domestic workers’ welfare, protection and regulation.

Key recommendations / conclusions

• No separate legislation required: The committee held that domestic workers are already covered under India’s four labour codes.

• Coverage under labour codes: It cited the Code on Wages (2019), Industrial Relations Code (2020), OSH Code (2020) and Social Security Code (2020) as providing sufficient legal protection.

• Focus on implementation: The report implied that better enforcement of existing laws, rather than new legislation, should address workers’ vulnerabilities.

• Inter-ministerial coordination: It emphasised coordination among labour, women & child development, social justice and law ministries instead of a standalone law.

Significance:

• Policy stance shift: The report signals the government’s preference for legal consolidation over sector-specific laws.

• Implications for informal labour: Domestic work, largely informal and home-based, is being equated with other labour categories despite distinct vulnerabilities.

• Judicial–executive interface: The outcome highlights limits of committee-based responses to Supreme Court concerns on social justice.

• Gender dimension: Since most domestic workers are women, the decision has direct consequences for gender equity and labour rights.

Relevance for UPSC exam syllabus

• GS Paper II (Polity & Governance):

• Welfare of vulnerable sections and Role of Supreme Court in social justice Labour reforms and labour codes and Issues in implementation of government policies

• Welfare of vulnerable sections and Role of Supreme Court in social justice

• Labour reforms and labour codes and Issues in implementation of government policies

• GS Paper I (Society):

• Women workers in informal sector Migration, urban poverty and social exclusion

• Women workers in informal sector

• Migration, urban poverty and social exclusion

• GS Paper IV (Ethics):

• Justice, empathy and inclusion State responsibility towards unorganised labour

• Justice, empathy and inclusion

• State responsibility towards unorganised labour

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 January 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme

Source: PIB

Subject: Government Scheme

Context: The Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme is in news highlighting its tangible outcomes—56 student-designed chips fabricated, 75+ patents filed, and large-scale chip design training—showcasing India’s growing indigenous semiconductor design capability.

About Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme:

What it is?

• The Chips to Start-up (C2S) Programme is a national capacity-building and innovation initiative to develop industry-ready chip design talent and strengthen India’s indigenous semiconductor design ecosystem through hands-on training, R&D, and fabrication exposure.

Launched in: 2022

Implemented by: the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY)

Aim: To create a robust pipeline of skilled chip designers, enable hands-on chip fabrication, foster start-ups and IP creation, and support technological self-reliance in semiconductors.

Key features:

• Outlay: ₹250 crore (5 years)

• Human resource targets: 200 PhDs, 7,000 M.Tech (VLSI), 8,800 M.Tech (related streams with VLSI), 69,000 B.Tech students.

• 200 PhDs, 7,000 M.Tech (VLSI), 8,800 M.Tech (related streams with VLSI), 69,000 B.Tech students.

• Infrastructure access: Shared EDA tools, HPC, FPGA boards, and SMART labs.

• Hands-on fabrication: Shared wafer runs via Semi-Conductor Laboratory (SCL), Mohali.

• Chip design enablement: National ChipIN Centre operated by Centre for Development of Advanced Computing (C-DAC), Bengaluru.

• Innovation outcomes: Start-up incubation, patents, IP cores, ASICs and SoCs.

• Industry collaboration: Training with global EDA and semiconductor firms.

Significance:

• Builds strategic talent to address the global semiconductor skill gap.

• Democratises chip design by giving students nationwide access to advanced tools and fabrication.

• Strengthens self-reliance (Atmanirbhar Bharat) in a critical, security-sensitive sector.

Second range-wide Dolphin Survey

Source: News on Air

Subject: Species in News

Context: The second range-wide Dolphin Survey has been launched from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh under Project Dolphin to update population estimates, assess habitats and threats.

About Project Dolphin:

What it is?

• Project Dolphin is a national conservation initiative of the Government of India aimed at protecting riverine and oceanic dolphins through habitat protection, scientific monitoring, and stakeholder participation.

Launched in: 15 August 2020

Nodal ministry: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC)

Aim: To safeguard India’s dolphin diversity by addressing threats such as habitat degradation, pollution, by-catch, and flow alteration, while empowering local communities in conservation.

Key features:

• 10-year initiative with national coverage.

• Focus on riverine & oceanic species.

• Scientific monitoring & surveys for population and habitat status.

• Integration with river ecosystem conservation and policy action.

About Second range-wide Dolphin Survey (under Project Dolphin):

What it is?

• A pan-India scientific estimation exercise to assess population, distribution, habitat condition and threats to riverine and estuarine dolphins, conducted in two phases across major river systems and coastal/estuarine stretches.

Implementation & coverage

• Phase I: Main stem of the Ganga (Bijnor to Ganga Sagar) and the Indus River.

• Phase II: Brahmaputra, Ganga tributaries, Sundarbans, and Odisha.

• Coordinated by Wildlife Institute of India, with State Forest Departments and conservation partners.

• Uses standardised protocols, hydrophones for acoustic monitoring, and trained field teams.

Previous survey data (2021–23):

• ~6,327 riverine dolphins recorded nationwide.

• Highest numbers in Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, followed by West Bengal and Assam.

• Small population of Indus River Dolphin recorded in the Beas system.

BRICS Plus naval exercise

Source: RT

Subject: International Relations

Context: India’s decision to skip the BRICS Plus naval exercise “Will for Peace 2026” has drawn attention as New Delhi clarified that such drills are not institutionalised BRICS activities and reflected a considered political choice amid evolving geopolitics.

About BRICS Plus Naval Exercises:

What it is?

• The BRICS Plus naval exercise is a host-led, non-institutionalised maritime drill involving selected BRICS members and invited partner countries, conducted outside the formal BRICS framework.

Host nation:

• South Africa

• Conducted off the coast of Simon’s Town, near Cape Town.

Member participants:

• Participating navies: China, Russia, Iran, United Arab Emirates, South Africa

• Observers: Brazil, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia

• Non-participants: India, Brazil (opted out of active participation)

Aim: To conduct joint maritime operations focused on the security of key shipping lanes and maritime economic activities, projected as cooperation among Global South nations.

Key features:

• Theme: “Joint Actions to Ensure the Safety of Key Shipping Lanes and Maritime Economic Activities”.

• Operations covering maritime security, counter-terrorism, anti-sea strike drills, and search & rescue.

• China-led operational coordination, with participation of sanctioned states like Russia and Iran.

• Framed as part of a broader “BRICS Plus” outreach, beyond core BRICS membership.

Significance:

• Highlights diverging visions within BRICS—economic cooperation versus security signalling.

• Raises concerns about militarisation of BRICS and perceptions of an anti-Western alignment.

• Explains India’s emphasis on strategic autonomy, separation of economic forums from military blocs, and caution in defence engagement with China.

UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty

Source: DD News

Subject: Environment

Context: The UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty, also known as the High Seas Treaty, has entered into force after crossing the required 60 ratifications, creating the first legally binding global framework to protect biodiversity in international waters.

About UN Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Treaty:

What it is?

• The BBNJ Agreement is a legally binding international treaty under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) to conserve and sustainably use marine biodiversity in areas beyond national jurisdiction (the High Seas).

Origin and history:

• Negotiations began in 2008 amid growing concern over unregulated exploitation of the high seas.

• After 15 years of negotiations, the treaty was finalised in March 2023.

• It entered into force 120 days after the 60th ratification, which was achieved in September 2025.

Targets:

• Achieve the “30 by 30” goal: protect 30% of the global ocean area by 2030.

• Enable large-scale conservation across two-thirds of the ocean, which lies beyond national control.

Key features:

• Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Enables creation of a global network of MPAs in international waters to conserve fragile and previously unregulated ecosystems.

• Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs): Mandates prior assessment of activities that may significantly harm marine ecosystems in the high seas.

• Marine Genetic Resources (MGRs): Establishes fair and equitable sharing of benefits derived from genetic resources used in biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.

• Capacity building and technology transfer: Supports developing countries through training, access to data, scientific cooperation, and marine technologies.

• Ecosystem-based and precautionary approach: Promotes decision-making based on best available science, traditional knowledge, and the precautionary principle.

• No sovereignty claims: Reaffirms that no state can claim sovereign rights over high-seas biological resources.

80 years of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

Source: ECOSOC

Subject: International Organisation

Context: The United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) will commemorate its 80th anniversary on 23 January 2026, marking eight decades of coordinating global action on development.

About 80 years of the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC):

What it is?

• ECOSOC is one of the six principal organs of the United Nations, serving as the central forum for international economic, social and environmental policy coordination, consensus-building and follow-up to global development commitments.

Established in:

• 1945 under the UN Charter

• First meeting: 23 January 1946, London

Aim: To advance sustainable development by integrating economic growth, social inclusion and environmental protection, ensuring that no one is left behind.

Key functions:

• Policy coordination: Guides and coordinates UN development system, including specialised agencies and programmes.

• Global platform: Facilitates debate, consensus and innovative thinking on development challenges.

• SDG follow-up: Reviews progress on SDGs via the HLPF.

• Inclusive engagement: Grants consultative status to 6,500+ NGOs, enabling civil society participation.

• Institutional linkage: Oversees functional commissions, regional commissions and expert bodies.

• UN system governance: Elects executive boards of agencies like UNICEF, UNDP and UNHCR.

Significance:

• Aligns global economic, social and environmental action.

• Connects governments, civil society, youth, academia and private sector.

• Uses convening power to restore confidence in multilateral solutions.

Microscopic crustacean

Source: TH

Subject: Species in News

Context: A microscopic crustacean discovered in the Kavaratti lagoon, Lakshadweep, has been formally established as a new genus and species, named Indiaphonte bijoyi.

About Microscopic crustacean:

What it is?

• Indiaphonte bijoyi is a microscopic crustacean (copepod) belonging to the family Laophontidae under the order Harpacticoida. It is part of meiofauna—tiny invertebrates (less than 1 mm) that live within aquatic sediments and are visible only under a microscope.

Found in: The species was discovered in the Kavaratti lagoon, a coral-rich, shallow lagoon ecosystem known for high marine biodiversity.

More on the discovery:

• The genus name Indiaphonte honours India; the species name bijoyi honours S. Bijoy Nandan, a noted Indian marine scientist.

• Recognised as a new genus due to a unique combination of morphological traits not seen in any known Laophontidae genus.

Key crustacean group:

• Some of Macroscopic crustaceans:

• Crab, Lobster, Shrimp / Prawn, Krill, and Barnacle.

• Crab, Lobster, Shrimp / Prawn, Krill, and Barnacle.

• Some of Microscopic crustaceans:

• Copepods, Cladocerans, Ostracods, and Amphipods etc.

• Copepods, Cladocerans, Ostracods, and Amphipods etc.

Key characteristics:

• Size: ~518–772 micrometres; females slightly larger than males.

• Body: Semi-cylindrical, dorsoventrally depressed, widest at mid-body and tapering posteriorly.

• Appendages: Antennae-like structures at the front; specialised limbs adapted for sediment life.

Significance:

• Ecosystem health: Meiofaunal copepods recycle nutrients, graze on microalgae, and form the base of aquatic food webs.

• Biodiversity science: Adds a new genus to global taxonomy, underscoring India’s role in marine discovery.

#### UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 19 January 2026 Mapping:

First open-sea Marine Fish Farming Project in Andaman Sea

Source: TI

Subject: Mapping

Context: India has launched its first open-sea marine fish farming project in the Andaman Sea, marking a major step in advancing the Blue Economy through science-led, livelihood-oriented utilisation of ocean resources.

About First open-sea Marine Fish Farming Project in Andaman Sea:

What it is?

• India’s first pilot open-sea aquaculture initiative involving marine finfish and seaweed farming in natural oceanic conditions using indigenously developed open-sea cages and marine technologies.

Located in

• North Bay, near Sri Vijaya Puram, Andaman Sea.

• Union Territory of Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

Implementing agencies

• Ministry of Earth Sciences (MoES) & National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT).

Aim: To unlock ocean-based economic potential, generate sustainable coastal livelihoods, and build technical feasibility for scaling open-sea aquaculture under India’s Blue Economy vision.

Key features

• Open-sea finfish farming using NIOT-designed cages resilient to natural ocean conditions.

• Deep-water seaweed cultivation with seed distribution to local fishers.

• Livelihood-centric pilot integrating science, technology, and community participation.

• PPP-ready model for future scale-up based on feasibility and field experience.

• Strengthens marine food security, employment, and coastal resilience.

About Andaman Sea:

What it is

• The Andaman Sea is a marginal sea of the northeastern Indian Ocean, historically significant for trade and strategically important for maritime connectivity and regional ecology.

Located in: The Andaman Sea is located in the north-eastern Indian Ocean, adjoining South-East Asia.

Bordering: Irrawaddy River delta, Myanmar and Thailand, Sumatra (Indonesia) and the Strait of Malacca.

Key features:

• Large marginal sea (~7.98 lakh sq km): The Andaman Sea forms a vast part of the north-eastern Indian Ocean, providing significant space for ocean circulation, sediment deposition, and marine resource utilisation.

• Andaman–Nicobar Ridge (active subduction zone): It lies along a tectonically active boundary where the Indian Plate subducts beneath the Burma microplate, shaping the region’s seismic and volcanic characteristics.

• Deep submarine valleys (>4,400 m): The sea contains deep oceanic trenches and valleys formed by tectonic movement, making parts of it among the deepest zones in the eastern Indian Ocean.

• Shallow northern continental shelf: Extensive sediment deposition from the Irrawaddy River has created a relatively shallow seabed in the north, influencing salinity, turbidity, and marine habitats.

Please subscribe to Our podcast channel HERE

Official Facebook Page HERE

Twitter Account HERE

Instagram Account HERE

LinkedIn: HERE