Current Affairs – January 29, 2026

{GS2 – Polity} Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) **

• Context (IE): President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, known as the “Gandhi of Lisbon,” publicly showcased his OCI card at the conclusion of the India–EU Free FTA.

• An Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) is a foreign national of Indian origin granted a lifelong visa to reside and work in India. It is an immigration status, not dual citizenship.
• The OCI scheme was introduced by the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2005; the legal status of an OCI is defined under Section 7A of the Citizenship Act, 1955.
• In 2015, the Government of India merged the Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) scheme with OCI into a single “OCI Cardholder” category.

Eligibility Criteria

• Foreign nationals (excluding those with any link to Pakistan or Bangladesh) are eligible if they:
  • Were Indian citizens at, or anytime after, the Constitution’s commencement on 26 January 1950.
  • Were eligible to become Indian citizens on 26 January 1950.
  • Belonged to territories that became part of India after 15 August 1947.
  • Are children, grandchildren, or great-grandchildren of such citizens mentioned above.
• A minor child is eligible if both parents are Indian citizens or if at least one parent is an Indian citizen; also, if the child is of any person covered under the categories mentioned above.
• A foreign spouse of an Indian citizen or an OCI cardholder is eligible if the marriage is registered and has subsisted continuously for at least two years before the application.

Mandatory Disqualifications

• Any person who is or was a citizen of Pakistan or Bangladesh, or whose ancestors held such citizenship.
• Serving or retired persons from foreign military, defence, or police (with limited exceptions).
• Applicants posing security risks or found guilty of fraud or material concealment.

Key Benefits of OCI Cardholders

• Lifelong Visa: OCI cardholders receive a multi-entry, multi-purpose lifelong visa for visiting India.
• FRRO Exemption: They are exempt from registration with the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer, irrespective of the duration of stay.
• Economic Parity: They have parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) in economic, financial, and educational matters, including ownership of non-agricultural property.
• Public Services: They are treated on par with Indian citizens for domestic airfares and entry fees to national parks, monuments, and museums.

Major Restrictions for OCI Cardholders

• Political Exclusion: OCI cardholders cannot vote, contest elections, or hold legislative offices.
• Constitutional Offices: They are ineligible to hold posts such as President, Vice-President, or Judges of the Supreme Court and High Courts.
• Public Employment: They cannot hold government jobs unless allowed by the Central Government.
• Land Ownership: OCI holders cannot acquire agricultural land, farmhouses, or plantations.

Recent Updates related to OCIs

• Special Permissions: OCI cardholders now require special permits for activities such as missionary work, journalism, research, or mountaineering.
• Restricted Area: They need permits similar to those of other foreign nationals to visit notified regions.
• Revocation Provisions: OCI status may be cancelled for acts showing disaffection towards the Constitution or if the holder is sentenced to imprisonment of two years or more.

Read More > Overseas Citizen of India

{GS2 – Governance} Social Representation Patterns in Central Government Employment **

• Context (TH): DoPT’s Annual Report 2024–25 shows significant Group C safai karmacharis belong to SC, ST and OBC communities, highlighting continued caste concentration in sanitation roles.

Caste Concentration in Central Government Employment

• Occupational Segregation: Over 66% of safai karmacharis come from SC, ST and OBC groups, reflecting the persistence of caste-linked sanitation work.
• Under-Representation: In Group A services, SCs hold only 14.20%, STs 6.54% and OBCs 19.14% positions, far below combined reservation entitlements.
• Data Transparency Gaps: Absence of EWS representation figures despite 10% quota weakens monitoring of inclusive recruitment outcomes.
• Slow SC Progress: SC share declined from 17.49% in 2018–19 to 16.84% in 2024–25, showing stagnation despite the long-standing reservation policy.
• Uneven Reservation Gains: OBC representation increased sharply from 21.57% to 26.32%, while SC and ST growth remained marginal over six years.
• Reporting Delays: For several years after 2019, DoPT released only partial workforce data covering only 19–20 lakh employees instead of the full 32 lakh employees.

Way Forward

• Upward Mobility: Expand structured leadership training, promotions and skill enhancement for reserved category employees; E.g., Mission Karmayogi competency-based capacity building.
• Occupational Diversification: Enable transition from sanitation roles into technical and administrative posts through targeted skilling; E.g., Skill India Mission and PM Kaushal Vikas Yojana (PMKVY).
• Data Disclosure: Mandate annual publication of complete caste-wise and EWS-wise workforce data across all departments; E.g., digitised HR dashboards under e-Office reforms.
• Reservation Compliance: Strengthen periodic compliance audits and corrective recruitment drives; E.g., special recruitment campaigns by DoPT for backlog vacancies.
• Institutional Support: Provide mentoring, coaching and preparatory assistance for higher service examinations; E.g., SC/ST/OBC coaching schemes under the Ministry of Social Justice and Tribal Affairs.

{GS2 – IR} China Proposes New Law to Regulate Activities in Antarctica

• Context (TH): China proposed the ‘Antarctic Activities and Environmental Protection Law’ to regulate Chinese activities and environmental conduct in Antarctica.

Key Provisions of the Proposed Legislation

• Expanded Jurisdiction: The law extends Chinese jurisdiction to citizens, entities, and foreign expeditions organised in China or departing from China.
• Mandatory Permits: Compulsory licensing is mandated for scientific research and commercial activities like tourism, fishing, and shipping.
• Environmental Safeguards: It requires Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) and strict waste and marine pollution protocols before approving activities in Antarctica.
• Activity Restrictions: The law bans mineral mining except for scientific research and prohibits military activities, in line with the Antarctic Treaty’s peaceful-use principles.

Significance of the Legislation

• Rule Shaping: The law signals China’s intent to evolve from a mere participant to a ‘rule-shaper’ within the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS).
• Commercial Shield: Regulating “grey zone” activities like private tourism and krill fishing provides legal backing for China’s expanding commercial presence in Antarctica.
• Regulatory Closure: The framework closes domestic regulatory gaps, preventing unregulated Chinese non-state activities from violating international obligations.

Way Forward for India

• Law Enforcement: India must strictly operationalise the Indian Antarctic Act, 2022, with credible permitting, inspection, and compliance systems.
• Station Renewal: Fast-tracking the construction of Maitri-II is necessary to maintain parity with China’s modern Antarctic infrastructure.
• Strategic Partnerships: India should strengthen polar cooperation with like-minded partners like Australia and France to counter unilateral Chinese interpretations of the ATS.
• Scientific Depth: Higher funding for climate and glacial research is essential to sustain ‘Consultative Party’ status through scientific credibility.
• Logistics Autonomy: Acquiring dedicated polar research vessels will reduce charter dependence and expand independent operational reach.

India’s Presence in Antarctica

• First Operation: India’s Antarctic journey commenced in 1981 with its first scientific expedition, Operation Gangotri.
• Treaty Status: India acceded to the Antarctic Treaty in 1983 and obtained ‘Consultative Party’ status with voting rights.
• Sustained Presence: The country has maintained an uninterrupted presence for over four decades; the 45^th Indian Scientific Expedition to Antarctica (45-ISEA) was recently launched for 2025-26.
• Nodal Agency: The National Centre for Polar and Ocean Research (NCPOR) in Goa coordinates and executes India’s entire Antarctic programme.
• Domestic Law: The Indian Antarctic Act, 2022, extends Indian jurisdiction and regulations to expeditions undertaken by Indian citizens.
• Climate Focus: Indian research focuses heavily on Antarctic–monsoon teleconnections and on the impacts of polar ice melt on sea-level rise.

Operational Infrastructure

• Dakshin Gangotri: Established in 1983 as India’s first permanent station, it was decommissioned in 1990 and now serves as a logistics support facility.
• Maitri Station: Commissioned in 1989 at Schirmacher Oasis in East Antarctica, it supports year-round geological and biological research.
  • India created a freshwater lake, Lake Priyadarshini, near Maitri to ensure a reliable water supply
• Bharati Station: Operational since 2012 in the Larsemann Hills, it specialises in oceanographic and atmospheric sciences.
• Maitri-II Project: The upcoming research station is expected to replace Maitri by 2032, with an estimated investment of about ₹2,000 crore.

Read More > History of the Antarctic Treaty | India’s Arctic Expedition

{GS2 – IR} India and EU Commit to Collaborate on Peaceful Nuclear Applications

• Context (TH): At the 16^th India-EU Summit, India and the European Union reaffirmed their cooperation on peaceful nuclear energy applications.

• Agreement Scope: The collaboration is based on the 2020 India-Euratom Agreement, covering peaceful, non-explosive nuclear energy uses.
• Fusion Research: Both parties are committed to better coordination in the ITER project to accelerate fusion energy development as a clean power source.
• Non-Power Use: The partnership prioritises non-power nuclear uses, notably radiopharmaceuticals for cancer treatment and radioactive waste management.
• Strategic Diversification: This cooperation expands India’s energy diplomacy by diversifying access to advanced nuclear safety technologies beyond Russia and the USA.

Read More > International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor (ITER)

{GS2 – IR} France Social Media Controls *

• Context (TG | RE): France’s National Assembly passed a bill banning social media use for minors under 15 and restricting mobile phones in high schools to protect child mental health.

Key Features of the Bill

• Phased Rollout: Restrictions on new social media accounts to begin from the 2026 school year, allowing transition for platforms and users.
• School Phone Ban: Prohibits mobile phone use in high schools, extending earlier restrictions imposed in middle schools since 2018.
• Account Deactivation Rule: Social media companies must disable existing accounts that violate age limits by 31 December after enforcement begins.
• Mental Health Focus: Targets harms linked to excessive screen exposure, such as emotional stress and declining adolescent well-being.
• Algorithm Safeguard: Shield minors from behavioural manipulation driven by platform algorithms.
• Foreign Influence Check: Aims to limit external digital influence shaping youth opinions.
• Platform Exemptions: Excludes online encyclopedias and educational websites from the ban.

Read More > Australia’s Under-16 Social Media Ban, Social Media Addiction in Children

{GS3 – Envi} Health Impacts of Plastics **

• Context (TH): A global lifecycle assessment published in The Lancet Planetary Health warns that health burdens from plastic-related emissions will drastically increase.

Key Findings of the Study

• Doubling of Health Burden: Emissions from plastics are expected to cause more than double the increase in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) by 2040 under business-as-usual trends.
• Delayed Production Peak: Global plastic production is unlikely to peak before 2100, prolonging environmental and health pressures worldwide.
• Global Lifecycle Estimate: The study provides the first comprehensive global-scale quantification of health impacts across the entire plastics lifecycle using DALYs as a unified health metric.
• Chemical Opacity: Limited transparency and non-disclosure of plastic chemical compositions severely restrict precise health risk evaluation and evidence-based policymaking.

Major Health Impacts Identified

• Air Pollution Exposure: Fine particulate matter from production and open burning increases risks of asthma, cardiovascular diseases and premature deaths.
• Toxicity-Induced Illnesses: Release of hazardous chemicals across plastic lifecycles is strongly linked to rising cancers and long-term non-communicable diseases globally.

Recommendations by the Lancet Study

• Reduce Virgin Plastic Production: Call for deep cuts in primary (new) plastic manufacturing, especially for non-essential and single-use applications.
• Full Lifecycle Policies: Urges governments to regulate plastics from raw material extraction to disposal and environmental leakage stages.
• Chemical Transparency: Recommends mandatory disclosure of plastic chemical composition to improve health risk assessments and policy design.
• Global Coordinated Action: Emphasises fast-tracking a legally binding Global Plastics Treaty to control pollution and health impacts worldwide.

{GS3 – Envi} MoEFCC Notifies Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026 **

• Context (PIB): The Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has notified the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026, replacing the previous SWM Rules of 2016.

• Legal Basis: The rules have been notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and will come into full effect from April 1, 2026.

Key Provisions of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026

Waste Management Measures

• Source Segregation: Waste generators are mandated to segregate waste at source into four distinct streams, i.e. wet, dry, sanitary, and special care (domestic hazardous waste).
• Landfill Limits: Sanitary landfills are strictly restricted to accepting only non-recyclable, non-energy-recoverable waste and inert materials.
• Landfill Disincentive: Landfill fees for dumping unsegregated waste are kept higher than the cost of processing segregated waste.
• Legacy Action: Authorities must map all legacy waste dumpsites and implement time-bound biomining and bioremediation with quarterly progress reporting.
• EBWGR Duty: Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR) mandates Bulk Waste Generators to process wet waste on-site or hold an off-site processing certificate.
  • Bulk Definition: Entities are classified as Bulk Waste Generators if they exceed 20,000 sq. m of floor area, use 40,000 litres of water per day, or generate 100 kg/day of waste.
• MRF Function: Material Recovery Facilities (MRFs) are formally recognised as centres for sorting recyclables and receiving special waste streams, including e-waste.
• RDF Mandate: Industrial units utilising solid fuel (e.g., cement, waste-to-energy) are mandated to replace a portion of their fuel with Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF).
  • Fuel Target: The RDF substitution rate is set to increase from current 5% to 15% over six years.
• Hotel Duty: Hotels and restaurants in sensitive ecological zones must process their wet waste in a decentralised manner.

Monitoring and Enforcement

• Polluter Pays: For the first time, Environmental Compensation (EC) will be levied for violations like false reporting, operating without registration, and improper waste management.
• Digital Tracking: A centralised online portal has been set up to monitor the waste lifecycle, manage facility registration, and handle mandatory audit reports.
• Land Planning: The rules introduced graded land allocation criteria and buffer zones based on the waste-processing capacity of plants.
  • CPCB will issue buffer-zone guidelines for facilities with a capacity exceeding 5 tonnes per day.
• Audit Oversight: State Pollution Control Boards (SPCBs) must conduct annual landfill audits under the performance oversight of District Collectors.
• State Committee: A State-level Committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, has been constituted to oversee the enforcement of rules.
• Tourist Fees: Local bodies in hilly areas and on islands are empowered to levy user fees on tourists and regulate visitor inflow.
• Carbon Credits: Local bodies are explicitly encouraged to generate carbon credits through efficient waste management.

Significance of the Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026

• Resource Efficiency: Four-stream segregation improves waste purity, enhances recycling efficiency, and improves compost quality at processing facilities.
• Circular Economy: Mandating the use of Refuse-Derived Fuel (RDF) creates a guaranteed market for non-recyclable waste and reduces dependence on fossil fuels.
• Institutional Accountability: Levying environmental compensation for violations such as false reporting enforces the Polluter Pays principle.
• Decentralisation: On-site processing mandates for Bulk Waste Generators reduce transport loads and ease the logistical burden on Urban Local Bodies.
• Digital Governance: A centralised online portal for real-time tracking and mandatory audits eliminates data opacity across the entire waste management lifecycle.

Read More > Waste Management in India | Circular Model for Waste Management in India

{GS3 – S&T} International Data Privacy Day and India’s Data Protection Imperative

• Context (PIB): International Data Privacy Day (Data Protection Day) is observed annually on 28 January to raise awareness of personal data protection in the digital age.

• The Council of Europe designated the day in 2006 to mark the signing of Convention 108, the world’s first legally binding international treaty on data protection.
• The 2026 theme, “Take Control of Your Data”, highlights individual agency and informed consent in the digital economy.

About Data Privacy

• Data privacy refers to individuals’ control over the collection, storage, and sharing of personal data.
• It is a foundational pillar of digital governance, protecting citizen data and enhancing public trust.
• The Supreme Court affirmed the Right to Privacy as a fundamental right under Article 21 in the K.S. Puttaswamy Case 2017.

India’s Digital Expansion and Data Protection Needs

• Digital Scale: India is the third-largest digital economy with over approximately 1 billion internet users (70% penetration), making data privacy central to trust and sovereignty.
• DPI Trust: Robust privacy serves as a trust contract for India’s population-scale digital public infrastructure, such as Aadhaar, UPI, and DigiLocker.
• User Exposure: India’s ultra-low data costs ($0.10 per GB) accelerate adoption and data generation, increasing the risk of AI and deepfake misuse.
• Market Credibility: Strong data privacy practices attract investment and improve global partner confidence in Indian firms.
• State Digitisation: Digitisation of state–citizen services via platforms like eSanjeevani (over 44 crore health consultations) and MyGov (over 6 crore users) raises risks to sensitive citizen data.
• Cyber Risk: Expanding digital data volumes heighten breach risks; the government has allocated ₹782 crore for cybersecurity in 2025–26.

{Prelims – A&C} Sufi Poet Bulleh Shah *

• Context (IE): Recently, a shrine dedicated to the 17^th-century Sufi poet Bulleh Shah in Mussoorie, Uttarakhand, was vandalised.

• Bulleh Shah (1680–1757) was a prominent Punjabi Sufi poet associated with the Qadiriyya Silsila.
• He adopted a highly individualistic and non-conformist approach, emphasising Tariqat (esoteric practice) over the orthodox Shariat.
• Poetic Form: He used the Kafi style, a musical form of poetry widely sung in qawwalis and folk music.
• Philosophy: His work combined Sufi mysticism with Hindu Vedanta, emphasising Wahdat-al-Wujud or the unity of existence.
• Secular Humanism: He advocated universal love (ishq) and compassion, transcending caste, creed, religion, and gender divisions.
• Social Reformer: He challenged the social hierarchy by accepting Shah Inayat Qadiri, a lower-caste farmer, as his spiritual guide.
• Religious Critique: He openly criticised ritualism and fundamentalism among Mullahs and Brahmins, emphasising inner spiritual realisation.
• Major Works: Kafian, Barah Maha, Siharfi, and Athwara are foundational to Punjabi Sufi literature.

{Prelims – Geo} Mir Alam Tank

• Context (TH): Stranded engineers and workers were rescued from the Mir Alam Tank lake by the Hyderabad Disaster Management and Asset Protection Agency (HYDRAA).

• Mir Alam Tank is a historic reservoir in Hyderabad, Telangana, located south of the Musi River. It lies adjacent to Nehru Zoological Park.
• It was built in 1806 during the reign of Nizam Asaf Jah III and named after his prime minister, Mir Alam.
• It is regarded as the world’s first multi-arch dam, featuring 21 semi-circular arches that efficiently distribute water pressure.
• The dam was designed by French engineer Michel Joachim Marie Raymond, or Monsieur Raymond.
• Mir Alam Lake was Hyderabad’s main drinking water source for almost 125 years until Osman Sagar and Himayat Sagar reservoirs were built.

{Prelims – Species} Lepidagathis konkanensis *

• Context (RM): Scientists have discovered a new wildflower species, Lepidagathis konkanensis, from the lateritic plateaus of the Konkan region in Maharashtra.
• Floral Morphology: The plant bears bright yellow, bilabiate flowers arranged in short, compact, and densely packed spikes.
• Reproductive Traits: It shows smaller seeds and a distinctly shorter style than closely allied Lepidagathis species.
• Habitat Adaptation: The species thrives on iron-rich lateritic plateaus, locally known as ‘sadas’, in harsh, rocky environments.
• Survival: It survives in extremely thin soil layers with high exposure to sunlight, wind, and seasonal moisture stress.
• Key Threats: Agricultural expansion, mango orchards, tourism growth, and rapid urbanisation

{Prelims – Disease} Scabies

• Context (TH): A global resurgence in scabies cases has revived public health concerns about it.

• Scabies is a contagious skin infestation caused by the microscopic mite Sarcoptes scabiei var. hominis.
• Infection Mechanism: Female mites burrow into the upper layer of the skin (epidermis) to lay eggs, triggering allergic itching from mite proteins and faeces.
• Transmission: Scabies spreads mainly through prolonged direct skin-to-skin contact.
• Types: Classic scabies occurs with a low mite burden and intense itching, or as crusted (Norwegian) scabies with massive mite infestation and thick crusts in immunocompromised individuals.
• Symptoms: Intense itching (pruritus), especially at night, and pimple-like rashes.
• Complications: Scratching facilitates Staphylococcus or Streptococcus infection, potentially causing septicaemia, heart disease, or kidney damage.
• Treatment: Standard management involves topical Permethrin cream or oral Ivermectin.
• Disease Burden: Scabies affects over 200 million globally, mainly in tropical and crowded areas.
  • Indian prevalence ranges from 13–59%, with rural household attack rates as high as 30.9%.
• Vulnerable Groups: Children, the elderly, and institutional populations face a higher risk due to close contact and limited access to hygiene.
• NTD Recognition: The World Health Organisation (WHO) declared scabies a Neglected Tropical Disease in 2017.