Daily Current Affairs (19/18 – Jan – 26)

Daily Current Affairs (19/18 – Jan – 26)

1. Uttarakhand has sought the Indian Air Force’s (IAF) help to douse a forest fireraging in the Valley of Flowers National Park –

Valley of Flowers National Park 

• About: Situated in the Western Himalayas in Chamoli, Uttarakhand, it is a National Park (declared in 1982) and a UNESCO World Heritage Site (inscribed in 2005). It forms one of the two core zones of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. Pushpawati River flows through it.
• Discovery & Recognition: Introduced globally after its 1931 discovery by British mountaineer Frank S. Smythe. Gained further fame through his 1938 book Valley of Flowers.
• Ecological Uniqueness: It features a pristine alpine ecosystem (3000 and 5000 m in the western Himalayas) preserved by natural glacial barriers. It lies in a transition zone between the Zanskar and Greater Himalayan ranges. It is renowned for its alpine meadows, rare flora, and diverse fauna.

Biodiversity: 

• Flora: It is famed for over 500 species of endemic and alpine flowers. Key species include the Brahma Kamal (state flower of Uttarakhand), blue Himalayan poppy, and numerous medicinal plants.
• Fauna:Hosts rare and endangered fauna such as the snow leopard, Asiatic black bear, musk deer, brown bear, and the Himalayan monal bird.
• Cultural Significance: It is associated with the Bhotia tribe. They practice transhumance, a form of seasonal migration between high-altitude summer pastures (known locally as Bugyals) and lower-altitude winter settlements.

2. Central Vigilance Commission –

• The President, exercising powers under Section 4(1) of the Central Vigilance Commission Act, 2003, has appointed Shri Praveen Vashista as Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). 

What is the Central Vigilance Commission? 

• About:CVC is the apex statutory body mandated to combat corruption and ensure integrity within the Central Government of India, evolving from an executive recommendation to a key pillar of India’s vigilance framework.
• Origin & Evolution: Established in 1964 based on the recommendations of the Santhanam Committee (1962–64), it was initially non-statutory.
• It was granted statutory status in 1998 via a Union government ordinance and was formalised under the CVC Act, 2003.
• Composition & Appointment: It is a multi-member body with a Central Vigilance Commissioner and up to two Vigilance Commissioners. They are appointed by the President based on recommendations from a committee headed by the Prime Minister, with the Union Home Minister and the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha as members. They serve a tenure of 4 years or until attaining 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.
• Independence: The Central Vigilance Commissioner’s salary and service conditions are the same as those of the UPSC Chairman, while a Vigilance Commissioners are the same as those of a UPSC Member; in both cases, these cannot be altered to their disadvantage after appointment.

3. Delhi Launches Unified Emergency Helpline 112 –

• Delhi is set to overhaul its emergency response framework with the launch of a unified emergency helpline number, 112. Announcing the initiative, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said the move aligns the national capital with the Centre’s vision of a single, easily accessible emergency number for all citizens.

Alignment with National Emergency Framework

• The Chief Minister stated that the Ministry of Home Affairs has declared 112 as India’s national emergency number. In line with this directive, Delhi will integrate all existing emergency helplines into a single access point. Once operational, residents will no longer need to remember multiple numbers for police, fire or medical emergencies.

4. IMF Lifts 2026 Global Growth Outlook to 3.3% –

• The “International Monetary Fund” has raised its global growth forecast for 2026 to 3.3%, signalling sustained resilience in the world economy despite persistent trade tensions, geopolitical conflicts, and supply-chain disruptions. The upward revision is driven largely by a surge in artificial intelligence-led investment, which the Fund says is offsetting the drag from protectionist trade policies.

AI Investment Drives Upward Revision

• In its latest World Economic Outlook update, the IMF increased its 2026 growth estimate by 0.2 percentage points compared with its October projection, bringing it in line with its revised forecast for 2025. The Fund highlighted rapid expansion in AI-related spending, particularly on data centres, advanced semiconductors, and power infrastructure, as a key driver of improved growth prospects across major economies.

5. Second Global Buddhist Summit to Be Held in New Delhi –

• The International Buddhist Confederation, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, will organise the second edition of the Global Buddhist Summit on January 24 and 25, 2026. The event will take place at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi and is expected to serve as a major international forum for dialogue on Buddhist perspectives addressing contemporary global challenges.

Theme and Contemporary Relevance

• The 2nd Global Buddhist Summit will be organised under the theme “Collective Wisdom, United Voice, and Mutual Coexistence”. At a time marked by rapid social, political, and environmental transformations, the summit aims to highlight the relevance of Buddha Dhamma in responding to conflict, alienation, and uncertainty. The principles of compassion, harmony, and wisdom will be examined as guiding values for peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity.

MCQ Quiz

Q1. Voyager 1 is a space probe launched by which space organization ?

1. a) European Space Agency (ESA)
2. b) Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)
3. c) National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
4. d) China National Space Administration (CNSA)

Q2. What is the ‘Miyawaki method’ that was recently seen in news ?

1. a) A technique of terrace farming
2. b) A method of urban waste management
3. c) A method of dense afforestation in small areas using native species
4. d) A technique of hydroponic cultivation

Q3. The Global Risk Report 2026 was released by which organization ?

1. a) World Bank
2. b) International Monetary Fund
3. c) United Nations Development Programme
4. d) World Economic Forum

Q4. The “30 by 30” goal, often mentioned in the context of international environmental agreements like the BBNJ Treaty, refers to:

2030. a) Reducing carbon emissions by 30% by the year 2030.
2031. b) Allocating 30% of the UN budget to biodiversity conservation by 2030.
2032. c) Achieving 30% renewable energy share in the global energy mix by 2030.
2033. d) Protecting 30% of the world’s land and 30% of the global ocean area by 2030.

Explanation-

• The “30 by 30” goal is a global target that emerged from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Its primary objective is to ensure that by 2030, at least 30% of the planet’s land and 30% of its oceans are under effective conservation and management.
• The BBNJ Treaty (High Seas Treaty) is considered a critical instrument for achieving the “ocean” part of this goal. Since the High Seas cover nearly two-thirds of the global ocean and were previously largely unregulated, creating Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in international waters is the only way to reach the 30% threshold.
• Without a legal framework like BBNJ, conservation efforts were limited to national territorial waters, which account for only a small fraction of the global marine environment. The treaty enables the international community to identify and protect fragile ecosystems, migratory routes, and biodiversity hotspots in the open ocean, which is essential for maintaining global marine health.

Q5. With reference to the joint report by the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH) and SaveLIFE Foundation, consider the following statements:

1. India ranks first globally in annual road accident fatalities.
2. The report identifies the top 100 districts with the highest accident severity.
3. Nashik Rural recorded the highest number of crashes among all districts.

Which of the statements given above are correct ?

1. a) 1 and 2 only
2. b) 2 only
3. c) 2 and 3 only
4. d) 1, 2, and 3

Explanation-

• Statement 1: Correct – India ranks first globally in road accident deaths.
• Statement 2: Correct – The report focuses on the top 100 high-severity districts.
• Statement 3: Incorrect – Pune Ruralrecorded more crashes, while Nashik Rural tops in fatalities severity.