22 January 2023

• Sports governance: The Sports Ministry suspended all WFI activities following sexual harassment allegations against the federation president. The Ranking Tournament in Gonda was cancelled.
• Environment: A 3.8 magnitude earthquake struck 23 km north-northwest of Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand, underscoring the seismic vulnerability of the central Himalayan region.
• Republic Day preparations: Security and logistical preparations for the 74th Republic Day parade (26 January) were in advanced stages.
• Polity: The Joshimath crisis continued: central agencies were conducting soil and geological studies, with first reports expected within days.

GS area: Governance, Society

Following the public protest by Olympians Vinesh Phogat, Bajrang Punia and Sakshi Malik, the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports issued a formal order suspending all activities of the Wrestling Federation of India.

• Order: The WFI was directed to suspend all ongoing activities, including the scheduled Ranking Tournament in Gonda, Uttar Pradesh. The federation president was not given any formal hearing before the suspension.
• Federation structure: The WFI is an autonomous body affiliated to the United World Wrestling (international governing body) and the Indian Olympic Association. National sports federations receive government grants and are governed by the NSF Guidelines, 2011.
• NSF Guidelines, 2011: Issued by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports. They prescribe age limits for federation officials, election procedures, and grounds for government derecognition.
• Pattern of accountability: The Sports Ministry has previously de-recognised federations (such as the All India Football Federation) for governance lapses. De-recognition cuts off government grants and access to national camp facilities.
• POSH Act: Sexual harassment complaints in sports bodies should be handled through an Internal Complaints Committee. Athletes alleged this mechanism was not functional in WFI.

Static linkage: Sports governance, social justice (GS Papers 2 and 4).

GS area: Disaster Management, Environment

Central scientific agencies were conducting subsurface and geological surveys of Joshimath as directed by the PMO. First reports were expected within two weeks of the 8 January meeting.

• Eight agencies deployed: ISRO's NRSC for satellite imagery, Geological Survey of India for ground surveys, CBRI Roorkee for structural assessment, WIHG Dehradun for glaciological and hydrological inputs, IIT Roorkee for geotechnical studies, NDMA for disaster risk assessment, and others.
• Interim measures: Joshimath municipality banned new construction. The National Highway connecting to Badrinath was also monitored for road cracks.
• Ongoing seismicity: The Pithoragarh 3.8 magnitude event on 22 January added to the background of seismic vulnerability in the region.
• Rehabilitation: Central funds were allocated for temporary housing of evacuated families. NTPC provided logistical support.
• Long-term challenge: Even if active subsidence slows, the existing cracked structures are permanent liabilities. Joshimath's revival as a tourism and pilgrimage gateway depends on structural stabilisation.

Static linkage: Disaster management, Himalayan ecology (GS Papers 1 and 3).

GS area: Geography (geophysical phenomena)

The 3.8 magnitude earthquake near Pithoragarh, Uttarakhand on 22 January was one of several low-magnitude events in the region in January 2023.

• Cause of Himalayan seismicity: The Indian plate is colliding with the Eurasian plate at roughly 5 centimetres per year. This ongoing collision produces frequent small earthquakes and periodic large ones.
• Pithoragarh: Located in Kumaon division of Uttarakhand near the Nepal border and the LAC with China.
• Himalayan seismic gap: A section of the Himalayas between the last major earthquake zones is under accumulated stress. Geologists describe this as the Himalayan seismic gap, which could produce a magnitude 8 or above earthquake.
• Building codes: Despite being in Zone IV and V, many Himalayan towns have significant unregulated construction. Building code enforcement is the primary policy intervention needed.

Static linkage: Physical geography, disaster management (GS Papers 1 and 3).

GS area: Polity, International Relations

The 74th Republic Day was to be celebrated on 26 January 2023. The Chief Guest was Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

• Republic Day significance: Marks India's transition from a British Dominion to a Republic on 26 January 1950, when the Constitution came into force.
• Chief Guest tradition: Inviting a foreign head of state as Chief Guest is a diplomatic gesture reflecting India's bilateral relationship priorities.
• Egypt-India first: El-Sisi was the first Egyptian head of state to be the Republic Day Chief Guest. His visit coincided with 75 years of India-Egypt diplomatic relations.
• Egyptian military contingent: A contingent of 144 Egyptian armed forces soldiers participated in the parade.
• Parade venue: The parade moved from Rajpath (renamed Kartavya Path in September 2022) following the Central Vista redevelopment.

Static linkage: Polity, international relations (GS Papers 1 and 2).

GS area: Science and Technology, Security

INS Vagir, the fifth submarine of the Kalvari class, was commissioned into the Indian Navy in January 2023.

• Kalvari class: Scorpene-design submarines built under a technology transfer agreement with DCNS (now Naval Group) of France. Built at Mazagon Dock Shipbuilders, Mumbai.
• Name: Vagir means sandfish, a species of shark. The name references stealth and speed.
• Capabilities: Diesel-electric propulsion. Can deploy anti-ship and land-attack missiles, heavyweight torpedoes and mines. Certified for anti-surface and anti-submarine warfare.
• Indigenisation: Mazagon Dock achieved significant indigenous content in the fifth boat compared to the first. The programme is a model for defence manufacturing under Make in India.
• Fleet plan: Six Kalvari-class submarines were sanctioned. INS Vagir is the fifth; INS Vagsheer (sixth) was under sea trials.

Static linkage: Defence, science and technology (GS Paper 3).

• Bharat Jodo Yatra: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 3,570-kilometre padyatra from Kanyakumari to Kashmir was in its final leg through Jammu and Kashmir in late January 2023.
• Asian Waterbird Census 2023: Ongoing from 7 to 22 January. India participates through state forest departments and the Bombay Natural History Society.
• NARCL: National Asset Reconstruction Company Limited (India's "bad bank") acquired Jaypee Infratech as its first stressed asset. NARCL operates on a 15:85 ratio of cash to government-backed Security Receipts.