23 January 2026

• Netaji: 23 January is Parakram Diwas, birth anniversary of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose (born 1897).
• Economy: RBI Monetary Policy Committee minutes released: repo rate held at 6.25%; inflation outlook 4.2% for FY26.
• Environment: Global Forest Watch: India lost 168,000 ha of tree cover in 2024; primary tropical forest loss down 20% year-on-year.
• Science: Scientists discover a new ancient virus (Paleoviridae) revived from 30,000-year-old Siberian permafrost.
• International: ECOSOC 80th anniversary formal session, New York.

GS area: Modern History, Governance

23 January is Netaji Jayanti, observed as Parakram Diwas since 2021.

• Birth: 23 January 1897, Cuttack, Odisha (then part of undivided Bengal Presidency).
• Parakram Diwas: Declared by the Government of India in 2021, on the 125th birth anniversary.
• Indian National Army (INA): Bose reorganised the INA (originally formed by Mohan Singh in 1942 from Indian prisoners of war in Singapore). Renamed it Azad Hind Fauj.
• Azad Hind Government: Proclaimed on 21 October 1943 in Singapore; received recognition from nine Axis-aligned nations.
• Slogan: "Give me blood, and I shall give you freedom" and "Jai Hind."
• Singapore National Monument: The former Syonan Museum (now Indian Heritage Centre area) marks INA presence in Singapore.
• Fate: Bose died in an air crash in Taipei on 18 August 1945 (official account). The Mukherjee Commission (2006) found this inconclusive, but no alternative is officially accepted.
• Subhas Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar: Award given on Parakram Diwas for outstanding work in disaster management.

Static linkage: Freedom struggle, INA, national days.

GS area: Economy

The MPC minutes for the December 2025 meeting were released; repo rate was held at 6.25%.

• Repo rate: The rate at which RBI lends overnight to commercial banks. Controlling repo rate influences bank lending rates and thereby inflation and growth.
• Decision: Unanimous hold at 6.25%. The last cut was in October 2025 (from 6.50% to 6.25%).
• Inflation: CPI inflation projected at 4.2% for FY26, within the 2-6% target band. Food inflation remains elevated (6.2%) due to vegetable prices.
• Growth: RBI projects real GDP growth of 6.6% for FY26.
• MPC composition: 6 members; 3 from RBI (Governor, Deputy Governor and one executive director) and 3 external experts appointed by the Central Government. Governor casts the deciding vote in case of a tie.
• Mandate: Flexible inflation targeting with a 4% target and a 2% band on either side.

Static linkage: Monetary policy, RBI, inflation targeting.

GS area: Environment

Global Forest Watch (GFW) reported that India lost 168,000 hectares of tree cover in 2024.

• Primary vs total tree cover loss: Primary forest loss (old-growth, high-biodiversity forests) matters more than plantation cover loss. India's primary tropical forest loss was down 20% from 2023.
• Drivers in India: Encroachment, linear infrastructure (roads, railways), mines, shifting cultivation in northeast.
• GFW platform: Run by World Resources Institute (WRI). Uses satellite data (Landsat) to track tree cover changes globally.
• India State of Forest Report 2023 (ISFR): Published by Forest Survey of India (FSI); shows total forest cover (including plantations) at 21.76% of geographic area.
• ISFR vs GFW methodology: GFW counts any tree canopy loss; ISFR uses legal definition of "forest." These produce different numbers and are not directly comparable.
• India's forest targets: Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits to creating an additional carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO2 equivalent through forests by 2030.

Static linkage: Forest conservation, NDC, FSI.

GS area: Science and Technology, Environment

Scientists published research on reviving a 30,000-year-old virus from Siberian permafrost.

• Virus type: Pithovirus genus (giant virus, visible under light microscope). Part of a group called Paleoviridae.
• Age: Approximately 30,000 years old.
• Source: Siberian permafrost samples.
• Infectiousness: Demonstrated infection of amoeba cells under laboratory conditions. Not known to infect humans or animals.
• Permafrost thaw concern: As Arctic permafrost thaws due to climate change, ancient viruses, bacteria and organic material are being exposed. Scientists warn of potential unknown pathogens emerging.
• Arctic permafrost: Contains approximately 1.5 trillion tonnes of organic carbon (twice the amount currently in the atmosphere). If it thaws, CO2 and methane release would accelerate warming (positive feedback loop).

Static linkage: Climate change, permafrost, biosafety.

GS area: International Relations

The formal session marking ECOSOC's 80th anniversary was held in New York on 23 January 2026.

• Established: Under Chapter X of the UN Charter, 1945.
• Mandate: Coordinate economic, social, cultural, educational and health work of the UN; make recommendations to the General Assembly and member states.
• Membership: 54 nations; elected for 3-year terms by the General Assembly. Seats distributed by region.
• Significance: Parent body of UNICEF, UNDP, UNHCR governing boards. Co-ordinator of 14 specialised agencies including WHO, FAO, UNESCO, ILO, IMF and World Bank (as associated bodies).
• HLPF 2026: ECOSOC will host the High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development in July 2026, mid-point review of the 2030 SDG Agenda.

Static linkage: UN system, SDGs, international institutions.

GS area: International Relations, Water

India formally notified Pakistan in 2023 of its intent to renegotiate the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT). January 2026 brought updates.

• IWT 1960: Brokered by World Bank; partition of Indus basin rivers. India gets eastern rivers (Sutlej, Beas, Ravi). Pakistan gets western rivers (Indus, Jhelum, Chenab).
• India's complaints: Pakistan-sponsored terrorism affects project financing. Climate change has altered river flows significantly since 1960. India's projects on western rivers face persistent Pakistani objections at Permanent Indus Commission.
• India's position (2023 notice): First ever renegotiation notice. Based on Article XII(3) of the IWT which allows renegotiation in extraordinary circumstances.
• Pakistan's response: Rejected India's notice; referred to Permanent Court of Arbitration.
• Kishanganga and Ratle projects: Two hydropower projects on western rivers where India and Pakistan have disputed positions; both under arbitration.

Static linkage: Indus Waters Treaty, transboundary water.

GS area: Governance, Culture

The Padma Awards for 2026 were announced on the eve of Republic Day (25 January).

• Categories: Padma Vibhushan (highest civilian honour), Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
• Total awards 2026: 119 awards (7 Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, 93 Padma Shri).
• Posthumous awards: 7 awardees were posthumous.
• Selection process: Committee chaired by Cabinet Secretary makes recommendations to PM; President approves and confers.
• Constitution basis: Padma Awards are conferred under Article 18(2) of the Constitution, which prohibits citizens from using decorations as titles. Padma awards are civilian decorations, not titles.
• Note: Sitting Members of Parliament, Ministers and Governors are ineligible (except for exceptional distinguished services in social work).

Static linkage: Padma Awards, governance, civilian honours.

• Cyber crime statistics: National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) 2025 report: India recorded 1.13 crore cybercrime complaints in 2024, 383% increase from 2021. Highest in UP, Maharashtra and Karnataka. Financial fraud was 77% of all complaints.
• SARAS fair 2026: Annual fair for SHG products curated by NRLM (National Rural Livelihood Mission) held at Dilli Haat, New Delhi in January 2026. Over 3,000 SHG artisans from 30 states participate.