30 January 2026

• Governance: 30 January is Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas): Mahatma Gandhi's martyrdom anniversary (1948). Two-minute silence observed across India.
• Economy: Economic Survey 2025-26 released: India's GDP projected 6.5-6.8% for FY26; recommends private investment push.
• Science: India's first quantum computer for civilian use unveiled by C-DAC at PARAM Ananta facility, Gandhinagar.
• International: Ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas extended for second phase.
• Environment: Draft regulations for deep-sea mining in India's Exclusive Economic Zone under public consultation.

GS area: Modern History, Governance

30 January 1948 is the day Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. The government observes it as Martyrs' Day (Shaheed Diwas).

• Assassination: Gandhi was shot by Nathuram Godse at Birla House (now Gandhi Smriti), New Delhi, at the prayer meeting.
• Gandhi Smriti: The site of Gandhi's assassination is now a national memorial at 5 Tees January Marg, New Delhi. The column at the site ("Martyr's Column") marks where he fell.
• Martyrs' Day observance: Two-minute silence at 11 AM. State memorial services. Floral tributes at Raj Ghat (Gandhi's samadhi, not the assassination site).
• Raj Ghat: Gandhi's memorial (samadhi) on the banks of the Yamuna; he was cremated there.
• Nathuram Godse: A member of the RSS-affiliated organisation Rashtriya Seva Dal (though Godse had left RSS); convicted and hanged (November 1949).
• Second Martyrs' Day (23 March): The martyrdom of Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev (1931). India observes two Martyrs' Days.

Static linkage: Freedom movement, national memorial, national days.

GS area: Economy, Governance

The Economic Survey 2025-26 was released by the Ministry of Finance.

• GDP projection: Real GDP growth 6.5-6.8% for FY26; potential growth estimated at 6.5-7.0%.
• Chief Economic Adviser: V. Anantha Nageswaran.
• Key themes:
  • India's GDP is among the fastest-growing large economies globally.
  • Private investment (gross fixed capital formation by private sector) has recovered to 29% of GDP.
  • Services-led growth model: IT, financial services and healthcare driving export revenues.
  • Employment: India needs 7.85 million non-agricultural jobs per year to absorb the workforce.
  • Inflation: CPI projected at 4.2% for FY26; food inflation declining.
  • Fiscal: FY26 fiscal deficit target 4.9% of GDP; on track.
• Survey theme 2025-26: "Economic resilience amid global headwinds."
• Survey use in UPSC: The survey's theme chapter and statistics are primary sources for GS3 economy questions.

Static linkage: National income, fiscal policy, employment.

GS area: Science and Technology

C-DAC unveiled India's first civilian quantum computer at PARAM Ananta facility, Gandhinagar.

• Programme: National Mission on Quantum Technologies and Applications (NM-QTA); announced in Budget 2020 with 8,000 crore rupee outlay over 5 years.
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY).
• Quantum computer type unveiled: 8-qubit superconducting quantum processor.
• Significance: A functional quantum processor (even at low qubit count) for civilian research use, enabling development of quantum algorithms for drug discovery, materials science, optimisation and cryptography.
• National Quantum Mission (NQM): Cabinet approved in April 2023 with 6,003 crore rupees. Target: 50-1,000 qubit computers by 2031.
• Global context: IBM has 1,000+ qubit processors; Google demonstrated quantum supremacy with 53 qubits in 2019. India is building from a lower base but with a dedicated national programme.

Static linkage: Quantum technology, C-DAC, MeitY.

GS area: International Relations

The Israel-Hamas ceasefire was extended for a second phase, continuing the phased approach.

• Phase 1 (January 2025): 42-day ceasefire; exchange of hostages and prisoners; entry of humanitarian aid.
• Phase 2 extension (January 2026): Continuation of dialogue; full cessation of hostilities; Palestinian civilian return to northern Gaza; long-term governance framework under discussion.
• Gaza context: Gaza is a strip of 360 sq km on the eastern Mediterranean; population approximately 2.3 million; controlled by Hamas since 2007 after it defeated Fatah in a violent takeover.
• India's position: India expressed concern for civilian casualties and called for a two-state solution. India abstained or supported humanitarian resolution at UNGA.
• Two-state solution: An independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, with 1967 borders as a reference point. India's stated position; endorsed by UNSC Resolution 242 (1967) and 338 (1973).

Static linkage: West Asia, Israel-Palestine conflict, India's foreign policy.

GS area: Environment, Economy, International Relations

India's Ministry of Mines released draft regulations for deep-sea mining in India's EEZ.

• India's EEZ: 2.37 million sq km, extending 200 nautical miles from the baseline. India's EEZ is larger than most countries due to its island territories (A&N, Lakshadweep).
• Deep-sea minerals: Polymetallic nodules (manganese, nickel, cobalt, copper), seafloor massive sulphides, cobalt-rich ferromanganese crusts.
• India's polymetallic nodule site: India was granted exploration rights by the International Seabed Authority (ISA) in the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) in the Area (international seabed beyond national jurisdiction). This is different from the EEZ.
• Draft regulations: Govern exploration licenses within India's own EEZ. Seabed activities require environmental impact assessment; marine biodiversity impact must be assessed.
• Concerns: Deep-sea ecosystems (hydrothermal vents, seamounts) are extremely sensitive and recovery from mining disturbance takes hundreds of years.

Static linkage: UNCLOS, deep-sea mining, ISA.

GS area: Economy, Social Justice

PMKVY 4.0 review data released: 16 lakh candidates trained in FY26 Q3.

• Launch of 4.0: 2023. Earlier versions: 1.0 (2015-16), 2.0 (2016-20), 3.0 (2020-21).
• New features in 4.0: 30% online training allowed; alignment with National Occupational Standards (NOS); focus on Industry 4.0 skills (AI, robotics, drone technology, green skills).
• Implementing agency: National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC).
• Nodal ministry: Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship.
• Qualification framework: Courses aligned to National Skills Qualifications Framework (NSQF); equivalent to formal education levels.
• Criticism: Post-training placement rates have been inconsistent. Independent studies show 30-40% placement rate; government claims 70%+.

Static linkage: Skill development, employment, NSDC.

• National Institute for Transforming India (NITI Aayog) report on gig economy: 7.7 million gig workers in India (2024); projected to reach 23.5 million by 2030. Recommendation: portable social security benefits not tied to a single employer.
• Padmanabhaswamy Temple: Supreme Court order: SC upheld the rights of the erstwhile Travancore royal family in the administration of the temple and its treasure. The temple holds vaults with assets estimated at over 1 lakh crore rupees.