24 January 2026

• Education: 24 January is National Girl Child Day. India's Gender Parity Index (GPI) for higher education crossed 1.01 (more girls than boys enrolled).
• Governance: National Voters' Day (25 January) preview: ECI launched voter awareness campaigns.
• Defence: India test-fired Agni-Prime missile; two reentry vehicles; range 1,000-2,000 km.
• Science: NASA's James Webb Space Telescope discovered oldest galaxy candidates at redshift z~16.
• Economy: DPIIT released Investment Intention data: 44,000 crore rupees in new project proposals filed in Q3 FY26.

GS area: Social Justice, Governance

National Girl Child Day is observed on 24 January, established by the Ministry of Women and Child Development in 2008.

• Purpose: Highlight inequalities faced by girls; promote gender equality, education and health rights.
• Key policy linkage: Beti Bachao Beti Padhao scheme (launched 2015 in Panipat, Haryana) targeted districts with low Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB).
• Sex Ratio at Birth progress: SRB improved from 918 per 1,000 male births (2012) to 934 per 1,000 male births (2023). Target is 950.
• GPI in higher education: Gender Parity Index (female GER / male GER) in higher education crossed 1.01 in 2024-25, meaning girls' enrolment in higher education now exceeds boys for the first time in India.
• UDISE+ data: Girls' Gross Enrolment Ratio at secondary level: 79.4%; at primary level: 102.4% (over-enrollment due to age variations).
• Challenge remaining: STEM gender gap persists; girls remain under-represented in engineering and technology courses (GPI approximately 0.82 in engineering).

Static linkage: Gender equality, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, education policy.

GS area: Defence, Science and Technology

India test-fired the Agni-Prime (Agni-P) missile from Abdul Kalam Island (Wheeler Island), Odisha.

• Classification: Nuclear-capable ballistic missile; new-generation compact missile.
• Range: 1,000 to 2,000 km (dual range variant with two reentry vehicles in the latest test).
• Propulsion: Two-stage solid fuel motor. More advanced than earlier Agni series.
• MIRV capability: The dual-reentry vehicle variant is a step toward MIRV (Multiple Independently Targetable Reentry Vehicle) technology.
• Developer: DRDO under the Integrated Guided Missile Development Programme (IGMDP) successor.
• Strategic significance: Agni-Prime fills the gap between the short-range Agni-I (700 km) and medium-range Agni-II (2,000 km). More accurate and easier to deploy than its predecessors due to its reduced size.
• Abdul Kalam Island: Located off the Odisha coast; India's primary ballistic missile test range.

Static linkage: DRDO, ballistic missiles, nuclear deterrence.

GS area: Science and Technology

NASA's JWST reported galaxy candidates at redshift z~16, possibly the oldest structures observed.

• Redshift (z): A measure of how much the universe has expanded since the light was emitted. Higher z = earlier in the universe's history.
• z~16 significance: At z~16, the universe was approximately 200 million years old (out of a total age of 13.8 billion years). This is exceptionally early galaxy formation.
• JWST capabilities: Infrared telescope; can detect high-z galaxies that have been redshifted out of the visible spectrum. Operates at -233°C from the L2 Lagrange point.
• Implication: The galaxy candidates are more numerous and massive than existing cosmological models predict for such an early time. This challenges the standard Lambda-CDM cosmological model.
• India-JWST connection: Indian scientists from IIA (Indian Institute of Astrophysics), Bengaluru and IUCAA, Pune are co-investigators on JWST programmes.

Static linkage: Space science, cosmology.

GS area: Polity, Governance

25 January marks National Voters' Day (NVD), commemorating the ECI's founding on 25 January 1950.

• NVD launch: 2011 (first NVD), to encourage youth voter registration and participation.
• Theme 2026: "Nothing like voting, I vote for sure."
• ECI establishment: Article 324 of the Constitution vests superintendence, direction and control of elections in the Election Commission.
• EPIC cards: On NVD, new voters receive their Electoral Photo Identity Cards (EPIC) at public events.
• Current voter roll: 969 million registered voters as of electoral roll revision January 2026. India has the world's largest electorate.
• ECI structure: Originally single-member; multi-member since October 1993. Currently has Chief Election Commissioner plus two Election Commissioners.

Static linkage: Elections, ECI, Article 324.

GS area: Governance, Social Justice

The Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM) achieved 99% functional household tap connections milestone in Himachal Pradesh and Kerala.

• JJM launch: August 2019.
• Target: Provide functional tap water connection to every rural household by 2024. Revised target: March 2026.
• Progress as of January 2026: Approximately 87% of rural households (152 million out of 175 million) have functional tap connections.
• States behind: West Bengal, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh are below 80% coverage. West Bengal around 60%.
• Institutional mechanism: Village Water and Sanitation Committees (VWSCs) manage local infrastructure.
• Funding: 60:40 Centre-State (for general states); 90:10 for NE and hill states; 100% Centre for UTs.

Static linkage: Rural water supply, JJM, sanitation.

GS area: International Relations, Defence

The Agni-Prime test prompted a recap of India's nuclear doctrine.

• No First Use (NFU): India will not use nuclear weapons first. This is the foundational principle.
• Massive retaliation: If attacked with nuclear weapons, India reserves the right to "massive retaliation" to inflict unacceptable damage.
• Civilian control: The Nuclear Command Authority (NCA) comprises the Political Council (chaired by the PM) and the Executive Council (chaired by the National Security Advisor). The PM authorises a nuclear strike.
• Triad: India has a nuclear triad: land-based (Agni series), sea-based (INS Arihant, K-15 and K-4 SLBMs) and air-delivered (Jaguar IS, Mirage-2000, Rafale aircraft with nuclear capability).
• No first use caveats: India's doctrine notes it reserves the right to respond to a chemical or biological attack with nuclear weapons (not strictly NFU in such cases).

Static linkage: Nuclear doctrine, strategic deterrence.

GS area: Culture, Governance

Republic Day (26 January) rehearsals included 16 state tableaux in the lineup for 2026.

• Republic Day significance: 26 January 1950 is when the Constitution came into force. India became a Republic, replacing the dominion status.
• Chief Guest 2026: Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto (building on India-Indonesia strategic partnership).
• Tableaux: 16 states and 10 ministries/departments represented; selection by a cultural committee.
• Military parade: Rajpath (Kartavya Path since 2022) hosts the parade. Helicopter flyby, President's Bodyguard, military bands.
• National flag: Unfurled (not hoisted) on Republic Day by the President. On Independence Day, the PM hoists the flag at Red Fort.

Static linkage: Constitutional history, Republic Day.

• PM Surya Ghar Muft Bijli Yojana: Installed 5 million rooftop solar units as of January 2026. Target: 10 million by 2026-27. Beneficiaries receive up to 300 units free per month.
• Andaman and Nicobar Command (ANC): India's only tri-service command celebrated its 25th year. Located at Port Blair, covers the 1,200-island archipelago. Strategically positioned near the Strait of Malacca.