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Daily Current Affairs - 9th January 2026

  • Writer: TPP
    TPP
  • Jan 9
  • 14 min read

Comprehensive UPSC Current Affairs Summary | US Sanctioning Russia Act 2025 & 500% Tariff Proposal, UNDESA World Economic Situation 2026, District-Led Textiles Transformation Initiative, PANKHUDI Portal for Women & Child Development, SWAMIH Fund, India’s Data Centre, Hominin Fossil Discovery, Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication Rollout, Sawalkot Hydropower Project, Water Vapour, Swadesh Darshan 2.0, National Sports Board Rules 2026 and more.

  1. US Bill Proposing 500% Tariff on Russia Oil Trade

  1. The US President has given approval to a Bill proposing a 500% tariff on Russia-related energy trade.

  2. The Bill is titled “The Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025”.

  3. Once enacted, the Bill will empower the US administration to impose steep tariffs on certain countries.

  4. These tariffs will apply to countries buying Russian oil, gas, uranium, and related commodities.

  5. The Bill also provides for the imposition of secondary sanctions.

    • Secondary sanctions penalize third-party countries or entities that engage in trade with a sanctioned country.


Waiver Provision in the Bill

  1. The US President retains discretionary powers under the Bill.

  2. The President can waive the tariffs for up to 180 days.

  3. Such a waiver can be granted if it is deemed to be in the US national security interest.


Potential Implications for India

Trade Impact

  1. The proposed tariffs could effectively halt India’s exports to the United States.

  2. India’s annual exports to the US are valued at approximately $120 billion.

Sectoral Impact

  1. Labour-intensive sectors in India are likely to be most affected.

  2. These sectors include textiles, footwear, and marine products.

  3. These sectors are already subject to US tariffs of up to 50%.

  4. Additional tariffs could further erode export competitiveness and viability.

Strategic and Diplomatic Impact

  1. The move could weaken India’s bargaining power in future trade negotiations.

  2. Trade talks with entities such as the European Union could be negatively affected.

  3. Negotiations with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) may also face challenges.

  4. The Bill could create a dent in India–US bilateral relations.

  5. It may also have adverse effects on India’s economic growth.


Way Ahead for India

Export Strategy

  1. India should focus on diversifying exports away from the US market.

  2. Export diversification can reduce vulnerability to unilateral tariff hikes.

Policy Support

  1. The government should strengthen the Export Promotion Mission.

  2. Increased outlay is required to support the export ecosystem affected by tariff escalation.

Trade Agreements

  1. India should accelerate trade negotiations, including the India–EU Free Trade Agreement (FTA).

  2. FTAs can help secure stable market access for Indian exports.

Domestic Reforms

  1. India should pursue simplified regulatory processes for exporters.

  2. Duties on critical raw materials should be rationalised.

  3. These raw materials include cotton, leather, and gem inputs.

  1. World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026

  1. The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) recently released the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report.

  2. The report projects India’s GDP growth at 7.2% in 2025–26.


About UNDESA

  1. UNDESA is a United Nations Secretariat entity.

  2. It is responsible for the development pillar of the United Nations. The development pillar focuses on economic, social, and environmental progress.

  3. UNDESA aims to help countries meet their economic, social, and environmental goals.

  4. The headquarters of UNDESA is located in New York City.

  5. UNDESA is headed by the Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs.

  6. The Under-Secretary-General is appointed by the UN Secretary-General.


Major Publications of UNDESA

  1. UNDESA publishes the World Social Report.

  2. It releases the Sustainable Development Goals Report, which tracks global SDG progress.

  3. UNDESA also publishes World Population Prospects, a key demographic projection report.

  1. District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) Initiative

  1. The District-Led Textiles Transformation (DLTT) Initiative has been unveiled by the Ministry of Textiles.

  2. The initiative aims to catalyse inclusive and sustainable growth across India’s textile sector.


Key Highlights of the Initiative

  1. The primary aim is to transform 100 high-potential districts into Global Export Champions.

  2. Another objective is to elevate 100 Aspirational Districts into self-reliant textile hubs.


Categorisation of Districts

  1. Districts will be categorised into Champion Districts and Aspirational Districts.

  2. The categorisation is based on analysis of three key parameters.

  3. The first parameter is Export Performance, which measures export capability and market reach.

  4. The second parameter is the MSME Ecosystem, referring to the presence of micro, small, and medium enterprises.

  5. The third parameter is Workforce Presence, indicating availability of skilled and semi-skilled labour.


Champion Districts (Scale and Sophistication)

  1. Champion Districts focus on scaling operations and increasing sophistication.

  2. The initiative aims to remove advanced bottlenecks in these districts.

  3. It promotes upgrading infrastructure to Mega Common Facility Centres (CFCs).

  4. Common Facility Centres provide shared infrastructure and services to textile units.

  5. Champion Districts will integrate Industry 4.0 technologies, such as automation and digital manufacturing.

  6. The initiative will facilitate direct export market linkages for these districts.


Aspirational Districts (Foundation and Formalisation)

  1. Aspirational Districts focus on building the textile ecosystem from the ground up.

  2. Emphasis is placed on foundation and formalisation of the workforce.

  3. This includes basic skilling and certification of workers.

  4. The initiative supports the establishment of Raw Material Banks.

  5. Raw Material Banks ensure reliable and affordable access to inputs for small producers.

  6. The programme promotes micro-enterprises through Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and cooperatives.


Regional Focus Areas

  1. The initiative places special emphasis on the Eastern and Northeastern zones.

  2. Focus areas include development of tribal belts.

  3. The programme aims to improve connectivity infrastructure in these regions.

  4. It also promotes Geographical Indication (GI) tagging for region-specific textile products.


Significance of the DLTT Initiative

  1. The initiative marks a shift towards a sector-specific, district-level development approach.

  2. It seeks to strengthen textile clusters across the country.

  3. Successful models will be systematically scaled across districts.

  4. The initiative ensures strategic convergence of government resources.

  5. It encourages collaborative partnerships with industry and academia.

  6. The programme aims to boost textile exports.

  7. It also seeks to create employment opportunities, with focus on tribal belts and MSMEs.


Textile Sector in India

  1. The textile and apparel industry contributes 2.3% to India’s GDP.

  2. It is the second-largest employment generator after agriculture.

    • The sector employs a large number of women and rural workers.

  3. India is the 6th largest exporter of textiles and apparel in the world.

  4. Key government initiatives include the Amended Technology Upgradation Funds Scheme.

  5. Another major initiative is the PM Mega Integrated Textile Region and Apparel (PM MITRA) Park.

  6. The National Technical Textiles Mission supports innovation in high-performance textiles.

  1. Ethical and Social Standards for AI in India

  1. The Prime Minister recently highlighted the importance of ethical and socially responsible AI models in India.

  2. These views were shared during a meeting with India’s AI start-ups.

  3. The Prime Minister emphasised that Indian AI models should transform society responsibly.


Core Principles for Indian AI Models

Ethical AI

  1. AI models must be ethical to ensure fair competition.

  2. Ethical AI must also respect data privacy of users.

  3. Some AI systems collect information from copyrighted content such as books and art.

  4. Such practices can harm the revenue of small creators.

  5. This violates the Kantian ethical principle of treating individuals as ends in themselves.

Unbiased AI

  1. AI models must be unbiased to avoid reinforcing social stereotypes.

  2. Bias often arises due to historically skewed training data.

  3. An example is credit card algorithms giving higher loans to men than women.

Transparent AI

  1. AI models must be transparent to ensure trust and accountability.

  2. Transparency helps address the black-box problem, where AI decision-making is not explainable.

  3. Chitralekha is an example of a transparent AI initiative. Chitralekha is an open-source video transcreation platform. It is developed by Indian non-profit AI4Bhārat.

  4. Open-source platforms encourage community participation and scrutiny.


Role of AI in Transforming Society

Public Service Delivery

  1. AI can significantly improve public service delivery.

  2. It enhances targeting, monitoring, and efficiency of welfare schemes.

  3. Improved efficiency helps in reducing leakages.

  4. The MCA 3.0 portal is an example of AI-enabled governance. MCA 3.0 is used by the Ministry of Corporate Affairs.

  5. It uses AI and machine learning to simplify regulatory filings for companies.

Access to Justice

  1. AI can improve access to justice.

  2. SUVAS is an AI-based translation platform. SUVAS is used by the Supreme Court of India.

  3. It translates judgments and orders into regional languages.

Sustainable Transformation

  1. AI supports sustainable transformation across sectors.

  2. AI-enabled smart grids help balance real-time electricity supply and demand.

  3. Smart grids also detect faults in power systems.

  4. These capabilities help in optimising energy efficiency.


Other Societal Applications

  1. AI improves healthcare access through AI-based diagnostics.

  2. AI supports education via personalised learning platforms.

  3. AI enhances disaster management using early warning systems.


Initiatives for AI Development in India

  1. The Government has launched BharatGen.

    • BharatGen is a government-funded initiative.

  2. It focuses on developing multimodal Large Language Models (LLMs).

    • These LLMs are tailored to India’s linguistic and societal needs.

  3. The India AI Governance Guidelines have been issued by MeitY.

    • MeitY refers to the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.

  4. These guidelines outline principles such as data privacy and transparency.

  5. The Anusandhan National Research Foundation (ANRF) has launched MISSION AI for Science and Engineering.

  6. This mission aims to boost AI research.

  7. It also focuses on ensuring the real-life applicability and robustness of AI solutions.

  1. PANKHUDI Portal

  1. The Ministry of Women and Child Development has launched the PANKHUDI Portal.

  2. The portal serves as an integrated single-window digital platform.


About the PANKHUDI Portal

  1. PANKHUDI integrates Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives.

    • CSR refers to voluntary contributions by companies for social development.

  2. The portal also facilitates partnership building among stakeholders.

  3. It brings together individual citizens on a common digital platform.

  4. The platform includes Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) as contributors.

  5. It enables participation of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs).

  6. The portal connects corporate entities with development initiatives.

  7. It also integrates government agencies for coordinated action.


Functional Scope of the Portal

  1. The portal streamlines voluntary contributions across development sectors.

  2. It also unifies institutional contributions on a single platform.

  3. Key thematic areas include nutrition and health.

  4. The portal supports Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE).

    1. ECCE refers to care and education provided to children in their early formative years.

  5. It also addresses child welfare initiatives.


Objective of the PANKHUDI Portal

  1. The primary aim is to strengthen coordination among stakeholders.

  2. It seeks to enhance transparency in contributions and partnerships.

  3. The portal promotes structured stakeholder participation.

  4. These efforts are directed towards women and child development programmes.

  1. Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund

  1. The Special Window for Affordable and Mid-Income Housing (SWAMIH) Fund has delivered approximately 61,000 homes as of 15 December 2025.

  2. These homes have been delivered across 110 stalled housing projects.

  3. The delivery includes over 7,000 units under rehabilitation and Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) categories.

    • EWS refers to households with lower income levels eligible for housing support.


About the SWAMIH Fund

  1. The SWAMIH Fund was launched in 2019. Its primary purpose is to provide last-mile financing.

    • Last-mile financing refers to funding required to complete projects nearing completion.

  2. The fund targets stalled residential housing projects.

  3. It focuses on the affordable and mid-income housing segments.

  4. The fund is managed by SBI Ventures Limited.

    • SBI Ventures Limited is a subsidiary of the State Bank of India (SBI).

  5. The fund operates as a social impact investment platform.


SWAMIH Fund–2

  1. SWAMIH Fund–2 was announced in the Union Budget 2025–26.

  2. It is structured as a blended finance facility.

    • Blended finance combines public funds with private and institutional capital.

  3. The fund will receive contributions from the government, banks, and private investors.

  4. SWAMIH Fund–2 has a corpus of ₹15,000 crore. It aims for the expeditious completion of another 1 lakh housing units.

  1. India’s Data Centre Capacity Growth

  1. India’s data centre addition capacity more than doubled in 2025, according to a report.

  2. India added 387 MW of data centre capacity in 2025.

  3. This compares with 191 MW added in 2024.

  4. The increase reflects a year-on-year growth of 103%.


What is a Data Centre

  1. A Data Centre is a dedicated and secure physical facility.

  2. It houses computing and networking equipment.

  3. Data centres are used for collecting data, storing data, processing data and distributing data.

  4. They also enable controlled access to large volumes of data.


Factors Driving Data Centre Growth in India

Regulatory Mandates

  1. Regulatory mandates are a key driver of data centre growth.

  2. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) requires financial data to be stored locally.

  3. This requirement creates demand for domestic data centre infrastructure.

Rapid Digitalisation

  1. Rapid digitalisation has increased data consumption in India.

  2. India had around 750 million internet users in 2024.

Cost Advantages

  1. India offers lower construction costs for data centres.

  2. Land costs in India are lower than in many other countries.

  3. Power costs in India are also comparatively lower.


Significance of Data Centres for India

  1. Data centres are key enablers of India’s digital revolution.

  2. They support digital government services such as Aadhaar.

  3. They enable Unified Payments Interface (UPI) operations.

  4. They support platforms like the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

  5. Data centres enable remote work and digital education.

  6. They foster innovation in the start-up ecosystem.


Role in Emerging Technologies

  1. Data centres enable integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into public services.

  2. They support deployment of the Internet of Things (IoT) across sectors.

  3. They aid technology integration in judicial and governance systems.


Strategic and Economic Benefits

  1. Data centres facilitate data localisation.

    • Data localisation reduces the risk of foreign surveillance.

  2. Local data access enhances national security.

  3. Data centres help protect privacy rights.

  4. They attract foreign direct investment.

  5. They contribute to job creation.


Challenges in India’s Data Centre Ecosystem

Regulatory Challenges

  1. India lacks a simplified and standardised regulatory framework for data centres.

  2. Regulatory complexity can discourage global investors.

Operational and Cost Challenges

  1. Data centres incur high operational expenses.

  2. High costs arise from large power consumption.

  3. Additional costs stem from infrastructure maintenance.

Environmental Concerns

  1. Data centres consume coal-based energy in many regions.

  2. They also require large quantities of ground-water.


Other Structural Issues

  1. There is a skill gap in specialised data centre operations.

  2. Data centre capacity is concentrated in metro cities.

  3. Major hubs include Chennai and Mumbai.


Way Forward

  1. Robust regulatory compliance can strengthen investor confidence.

  2. Energy-efficient research and development can reduce environmental impact.

  3. Expansion into Tier-2 cities can ensure balanced growth.

  4. These steps can promote a sustainable, secure, and resilient data centre ecosystem.

Initiatives to Promote Data Centres in India

  1. The Draft Data Centre Policy (2020) aims to promote domestic manufacturing of data centre equipment.

  2. Data centres with IT load above 5 MW have been granted infrastructure status.

  3. India’s first hyperscale data centre, Yotta D1, is located in Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh.

  4. The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has proposed a Data Centre Incentivisation Scheme (DCIS).

  5. TRAI has also recommended setting up Data Centre Economic Zones (DCEZs).

  1. Hominins

  1. A recent study identified an assemblage of hominin fossils from a Moroccan cave.

  2. The fossils have been dated to approximately 773,000 years old.

  3. This discovery helps fill a critical gap in understanding human evolution.


About Hominins

  1. Hominins are a group of primates.

  2. This group includes modern humans (Homo sapiens). It also includes all extinct human species.

  3. The group further includes all immediate ancestors of modern humans.

  4. Hominins belong to the family Hominidae. They fall under the order Primates.

  5. Homo sapiens is the only surviving hominin species today.


Key Characteristics of Hominins

  1. Hominins exhibit an erect posture.

  2. They are characterised by bipedal locomotion, which means walking on two legs.

  3. They possess larger brain sizes compared to other primates.

  4. Hominins display specialised tool use as a behavioural trait.

  5. Some hominin species developed communication through language.

  1. Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication Technology

The Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways announced that India will roll out Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) communication technology.


About V2V Communication Technology

  1. V2V communication is an inter-vehicle communication paradigm.

  2. It enables vehicles to directly exchange information with each other.

  3. V2V does not rely on third-party networks.

  4. These excluded networks include cellular or telecom networks.


Significance of V2V Technology

  1. V2V technology significantly enhances road safety.

  2. It allows vehicles to communicate across the front, rear, and sides.

  3. The system factors in terrain variations.

  4. It also accounts for road curves and blind spots.

  5. V2V strengthens Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS).

    • ADAS refers to systems that assist drivers through automation and alerts.

  6. Vehicles can share hazard warnings even when the threat is not directly visible.

  1. Sawalkot Hydropower Dam

  1. The Government of India has accelerated the Sawalkot hydropower project.

  2. This acceleration is being undertaken along with the Ratle and Dulhasti projects.

  3. The move comes amid tensions related to the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT).

    • The Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) governs water sharing between India and Pakistan.


About the Sawalkot Hydropower Project

  1. The Sawalkot Hydropower Project is located on the Chenab River.

  2. The project is situated in Jammu and Kashmir.

  3. It is a 1,856 MW hydropower project.

  4. The project follows a run-of-the-river design.

    • Run-of-the-river projects generate power without creating large storage reservoirs.


Hydropower Projects on the Chenab River

  1. The Chenab River already hosts Dulhasti-I hydropower project.

  2. The river also has the Baglihar project.

  3. Another operational project on the Chenab is Salal.


Projects Under Construction on the Chenab River

  1. The Ratle hydropower project is currently under construction.

  2. Dulhasti-II is also under construction.

  3. The Kiru project is being developed on the Chenab River.

  4. The Kwar project is another hydropower project under construction.

  1. Water Vapour

  1. A recent study highlighted that water vapour heats the atmosphere much more than aerosols do.

  2. Aerosols are small particles suspended in the atmosphere, often not or barely visible to the human eye.

  3. The Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP) region is regarded as a global hotspot of aerosol loading.


About Water Vapour

  1. Water vapour is the most abundant greenhouse gas in the atmosphere.

  2. It is condensable, meaning it can change from a gas into a liquid.

  3. The concentration of water vapour decreases with altitude. Its concentration also decreases from the equator towards the poles.

  4. Water vapour accounts for around 4% of the air by volume in warm tropical regions.

  5. In dry and cold areas, such as deserts and polar regions, its proportion may be less than 1%.

  1. Swadesh Darshan Scheme

  1. 75 projects have been completed under the Swadesh Darshan Scheme to promote thematic tourism in India.

  2. Genesis: Launched in 2015, it is a flagship scheme of the Ministry of Tourism.

  3. Objective: To develop theme-based tourist circuits such as Buddhist Circuit, Eco Circuit, Heritage Circuit, Himalayan Circuit, etc.

  4. Swadesh Darshan 2.0 is a revamped version of the scheme aimed at sustainable and responsible destination development with a tourist- and destination-centric approach.


Sub-schemes under Swadesh Darshan 2.0

  1. Challenge-Based Destination Development (CBDD): 36 projects sanctioned under four thematic categories: Spiritual Tourism, Culture & Heritage, Vibrant Village Program, Ecotourism, and Amrit Dharohar Sites.

    • Vibrant Village Program: Identified 5 destinations including Kibitho (Arunachal Pradesh), Rakchham-Chhitkul (Himachal Pradesh), Grathang (Sikkim), Jadung and Mana (Uttarakhand).

  2. Guidelines for Tribal Homestay Development: Aims to develop 1,000 Tribal Homestays under the Pradhan Mantri Janjatiya Unnat Gram Abhiyan (PM-JUGA) Scheme.

  3. Special Assistance to States for Capital Investment (SASCI): Provides long-term interest-free loans for 50 years to states for developing Iconic Tourist Centres to a global scale.


Tourism Sector in India

  1. Emerging Potential: India witnessed approximately 20 million International Tourist Arrivals (ITAs) in 2024, earning nearly ₹3 lakh crore in foreign exchange.

  2. Economic Contribution: Tourism contributed 5% to GDP in FY23 and created 7.6 crore jobs in FY23.

  3. Other Benefits: Promotes cultural conservation, national integration, and acts as a soft power tool in diplomacy.


Other Initiatives to Enhance Tourism

  1. PRASHAD Scheme (Pilgrimage Rejuvenation and Spiritual Augmentation Drive): Enhances infrastructure at major pilgrimage sites and heritage cities.

  2. Medical Tourism: India’s Medical Value Travel (MVT) sector is projected to reach $13.42 billion by 2026.

  3. MICE Tourism (Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions): A national strategy and roadmap has been formulated by the Tourism Ministry.

  4. Employment-Led Growth: Initiatives include skill development programs in hospitality management and MUDRA loans for homestays.

 

  1. National Sports Board (NSB)

  1. The Union Government notified the National Sports Board (Search-cum-Selection Committee) Rules, 2026 under the National Sports Governance Act, 2025.

  2. Search-cum-Selection Committee is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Secretary (Sports), one expert in sports administration, and two recipients of national sports awards.

  3. About NSB: It is the central authority responsible for granting recognition to National Sports Bodies and ensuring their compliance with regulations.

  4. Composition of the Board: Includes a Chairperson and two other members.

  5. Purpose: NSB ensures that National Sports Bodies are recognized officially and follow governance norms.

  6. Term of office: Members serve for 3 years or until reaching 65 years of age, whichever is earlier.

Read Also | Task Force Report on Capacity Building of Sports Administrators , Partial Implementation of the “NSG Act”
You might like this | Difference Between National Sports Code 2011 and Sports Governance Bill 2025

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