🗞️ Why in News NSO released First Advance Estimates showing India’s GDP grew 7.4% in FY26. CJI Surya Kant inaugurated India’s first fully paperless district court at Kalpetta, Kerala. The Trump administration issued an executive order withdrawing the USA from 66 international organisations including the International Solar Alliance. Renowned ecologist Madhav Gadgil passed away on January 7. HPCL’s LC-Max Facility at Visakhapatnam and the 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas in Bhubaneswar also remained in focus.
HPCL Commissions World’s First LC-Max Residue Upgradation Facility
Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) commissioned the world’s first and largest Liquid Conversion–Maximum (LC-Max) Residue Upgradation Facility (RUF) at its Visakhapatnam Refinery (Andhra Pradesh) on January 5, 2026.
Key facts:
- Investment: ₹31,407 crore
- Technology: Converts approximately 93% of low-value heavy residue (bottom-of-barrel) into high-value fuels — petrol, diesel, LPG, and aviation turbine fuel
- Significance: Reduces dependence on imported crude by maximising output from each barrel; “first of its kind” globally
- The facility is part of HPCL’s Vizag Refinery Modernisation Project to increase the refinery’s capacity from 8.3 MMTPA to 15 MMTPA
UPSC relevance: GS3 — India’s energy security, downstream petroleum sector, crude oil import dependence (~88%), refinery self-sufficiency.
18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas Convention 2026 — Bhubaneswar
The 18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) Convention was held from January 8–10, 2026 in Bhubaneswar, Odisha — marking the first time Odisha hosted the event.
Key facts:
- Theme: “Diaspora’s Contribution to Viksit Bharat” (Developed India by 2047)
- Chief Guest: President of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago (Christine Kangaloo)
- Inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi; presided over on concluding day by President Droupadi Murmu
- PBD Samman Awards — highest honour given to overseas Indians for outstanding contributions
- India’s diaspora: ~3.2 crore people (world’s largest diaspora by absolute numbers); remittances ~$125 billion (2024, world’s largest recipient)
UPSC relevance: GS2 — Indian diaspora, soft power, Pravasi Bharatiya Divas convention, Ministry of External Affairs.
Nagauri Ashwagandha Receives GI Tag
Nagauri Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera), grown in Nagaur district of Rajasthan, received a Geographical Indication (GI) tag — recognising its unique quality characteristics tied to the region’s soil and climate.
Key features:
- Known for longer and thicker roots rich in medicinal compounds (withanolides)
- Dark, bright red berries indicate superior quality and maturity
- Used in Ayurvedic medicine for stress reduction, immunity, and stamina (an adaptogen)
- Nagaur district’s sandy loam soil with low moisture retention gives optimal root development
UPSC relevance: GS3 — GI tags in India, Ayurvedic exports, TRIPS Agreement (GI protection under WTO), Rajasthan’s agricultural identity.
Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary — Tamil Nadu
The Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary came under conservation focus in January 2026. It is located in the Bargur Hills of Erode district, Tamil Nadu, situated between the Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (Tamil Nadu) and Male Mahadeshwara Wildlife Sanctuary (Karnataka).
Key features:
- Part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve landscape — a critical tiger and elephant corridor
- Named after Tamil social reformer E. V. Ramasamy Periyar (Thanthai Periyar)
- Habitat for elephants, tigers, leopards, gaur, and species of the Eastern Ghats biosphere
- The sanctuary serves as an important wildlife corridor connecting Tamil Nadu and Karnataka forest complexes
UPSC relevance: GS3 — Protected areas network, tiger/elephant corridors, Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve, Tamil Nadu’s biodiversity.
National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) Framework
The National Quality Assurance Standards (NQAS) framework — developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare — evaluates and certifies public health facilities (hospitals, CHCs, PHCs) on patient safety, quality of care, and cleanliness.
Key facts:
- NQAS certification indicates a public facility meets standards comparable to private hospitals
- Component of the Ayushman Bharat Health and Wellness Centres (HWC) programme
- Hospitals scoring above threshold receive NQAS certification valid for 3 years
- Part of India’s Quality Improvement Toolkit along with LaQshya (Labour room quality), Mera Aspataal, and Kayakalp (cleanliness)
UPSC relevance: GS2 — Health governance, Ayushman Bharat, public health quality, NHM programmes.
Vande Bharat Sleeper Train — Guwahati to Howrah
The Vande Bharat Sleeper Train began its inaugural run on the Guwahati–Howrah route — the first deployment of the sleeper variant of India’s semi-high-speed Vande Bharat trainset.
Key facts:
- Capacity: approximately 823 passengers across AC 3-tier, AC 2-tier, and first-class coaches
- Maximum speed: 160 km/h (though operating speed varies by route)
- The sleeper variant allows overnight travel on routes that the chair-car variant cannot efficiently serve
- Guwahati–Howrah distance: ~997 km
UPSC relevance: GS3 — Railway modernisation, indigenous design and manufacturing, Northeast connectivity.
UP’s First Braille Library — Lucknow
Uttar Pradesh’s first Braille library was established at Dr Shakuntala Mishra National Rehabilitation University, Lucknow — India’s first state university exclusively for persons with disabilities.
Key facts:
- Collection: over 4,000 Braille books in Hindi and English
- Serves students with visual impairments; provides accessible reading in mother tongue
- Connected to the Right of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (RPwD Act) mandate for inclusive education
- National Institute for the Empowerment of Persons with Visual Disabilities (NIEPVD) is headquartered in Dehradun
UPSC relevance: GS2 — Social justice, disability rights, RPwD Act 2016, Article 41 (Right to education and assistance), inclusive education.
BSNL Launches VoWiFi Services Nationwide
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) launched VoWiFi (Voice over WiFi) services nationwide — enabling voice calls and SMS over a Wi-Fi network using the same mobile number, without needing cellular coverage.
Key facts:
- VoWiFi is particularly valuable in areas with poor cellular reception (remote, rural, indoor) but good WiFi
- BSNL is India’s state-owned telecom company under the Department of Telecommunications (DoT), Ministry of Communications
- The launch is part of BSNL’s 4G/5G revival following government investment of over ₹1.64 lakh crore (under Atmanirbhar Bharat) for domestic 4G rollout using TCS-developed technology
UPSC relevance: GS3 — Telecom sector, BSNL revival, Atmanirbhar Bharat, digital connectivity in rural/remote areas.
India Invited to Weimar Triangle Summit — Jaishankar’s Europe Visit
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar visited France, Germany, and Poland in January 2026 — a tour that culminated in India being invited as the first non-EU partner to participate in a Weimar Triangle summit.
Key facts:
- Weimar Triangle: An informal diplomatic forum formed in 1991 among France, Germany, and Poland to strengthen European cooperation; historically focused on EU integration
- India’s participation marks a recognition of India’s strategic significance for European security, technology partnerships, and supply chain diversification post-Russia-Ukraine war
- Jaishankar held bilateral talks on defence cooperation, critical minerals, digital technology, and Indo-Pacific security
- India–EU relations are guided by the India-EU Strategic Partnership (since 2004) and the Trade and Technology Council (TTC) launched in 2023
UPSC relevance: GS2 — India’s foreign policy, EU-India strategic partnership, Weimar Triangle, European security architecture, India’s multilateral diplomacy.
White-bellied Heron — India’s Critically Endangered Waterbird Under Threat
The White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis), one of the world’s rarest birds, came into focus in January 2026 amid concerns about threats to its last remaining habitats in Arunachal Pradesh.
Key facts:
- IUCN Status: Critically Endangered — fewer than 60 individuals estimated globally
- Distribution: ~45% of the global population resides in Bhutan; in India, found only in Namdapha Tiger Reserve and Kamlang Wildlife Sanctuary, Arunachal Pradesh
- The Lohit River basin — where Kamlang WLS is located — is proposed for the Kalai-II Hydropower Project (1,200 MW; Anjaw district, Arunachal Pradesh; implemented by THDCIL)
- Scientists warn that dam construction and reservoir flooding would destroy the shallow river-banks and sandbars the heron depends on for nesting and foraging
UPSC relevance: GS3 — Critically Endangered species, infrastructure vs. biodiversity conflict, IUCN Red List, hydropower in Northeast India.
H5N1 Avian Influenza — Kerala’s Kuttanad Duck-Farming Belt
H5N1 Avian Influenza broke out in the Kuttanad region of Kerala in January 2026, prompting culling of approximately 55,000 birds in the affected areas.
Key facts:
- H5N1 is a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) strain — zoonotic risk (can infect humans, especially poultry workers)
- Kuttanad (Alappuzha district) is known as the “rice bowl of Kerala” and is a major duck-farming area; indigenous breeds Chara and Chembally were among those affected
- First global detection of H5N1: 1996, China (Guangdong province); India first reported H5N1 in domestic poultry: 2006 (Maharashtra); recurrent in Kerala since 2015
- Response protocol: DART (Disease Advance Response Teams); compensation under National Livestock Disease Control Programme (NLDCP); Biosafety Level 3 (BSL-3) surveillance
UPSC relevance: GS3 — Zoonotic diseases, One Health approach, avian influenza biosecurity, disaster management in animal husbandry.
Census 2027 Notification — India’s First Digital Census
India announced in January 2026 that the next Census would be conducted in 2027 — delayed from the originally scheduled 2021 cycle due to COVID-19 and logistics challenges.
Key facts:
- Census 2027 will be India’s first fully digital Census — using tablets and a mobile app for data collection (no paper schedules)
- India’s first synchronous Census: 1881 (under W.C. Plowden, Census Commissioner)
- Conducted under the Census Act, 1948 by the Registrar General and Census Commissioner of India (under MHA)
- The Census records population, literacy, religion, caste (Scheduled Castes/Tribes), occupation, housing, migration, language, and disability data
- Caste enumeration: The 2027 Census will reportedly include the Other Backward Classes (OBC) caste count — a long-pending demand
UPSC relevance: GS2 — Census as governance tool, OBC caste data, Registrar General’s Office, demographic dividend, social justice implications of caste enumeration.
PANKHUDI Portal — Women and Children’s Welfare via CSR
The Ministry of Women and Child Development (MoWCD) launched the PANKHUDI portal to facilitate Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributions specifically for welfare programmes targeting women and children.
Key facts:
- PANKHUDI: Acronym for Partnerships for Advancement of National Key Humanitarian and Upliftment Decisions and Initiatives
- The portal connects corporate donors (through their CSR obligations under Section 135, Companies Act 2013) with government schemes like Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, POSHAN Abhiyan, and Mission Shakti
- CSR spending mandate: Companies with net worth ≥₹500 crore, OR turnover ≥₹1,000 crore, OR net profit ≥₹5 crore are required to spend 2% of average net profit on CSR
- Administered by MoWCD with the National Commission for Women as stakeholder
UPSC relevance: GS2 — CSR under Companies Act, MoWCD schemes, POSHAN Abhiyan, Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Mission Shakti.
NSO First Advance Estimates — GDP Growth FY2025-26
The National Statistical Office (NSO) released the First Advance Estimates of National Income 2025-26:
- Real GDP growth: 7.4% for FY2025-26 (vs 8.2% in FY24, 7.0% in FY23)
- Nominal GDP growth: 8.0%
- Real GVA (Gross Value Added): 7.3%
- GDP at current prices: ~Rs 327 lakh crore
- Released by: Ministry of Statistics & Programme Implementation (MoSPI)
- Significance: First official growth estimate for the year; used for Budget preparation; confirms India retaining fastest-growing large economy status
UPSC Angle: GS-3 Economy — National income accounting; GDP vs GVA distinction; advance estimates vs revised estimates; India’s growth drivers (investment, consumption, exports); NSO’s role under MoSPI.
Madhav Gadgil — Renowned Ecologist Passes Away
Professor Madhav Dhananjaya Gadgil (83), considered the “Father of Modern Indian Ecology”, passed away (January 7, 2026):
- Institution: Founder, Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru
- Key contribution: Chaired the Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP) — commonly called the Gadgil Committee — which recommended declaring ~64% of Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Area
- Other contributions: Contributed to India’s first Biosphere Reserve at Nilgiri; contributed to Biological Diversity Act, 2002; co-creator of People’s Biodiversity Registers concept
- Awards: Padma Shri (1981), Padma Bhushan (2006), UN Champion of the Earth Award (2024) — posthumous recognition
- Legacy: Pioneer in quantitative population ecology in India; documented traditional ecological knowledge (TEK) of local communities
UPSC Angle: GS-3 Environment — Western Ghats biodiversity; Biological Diversity Act 2002; Biosphere Reserves; Gadgil Committee vs Kasturirangan Committee recommendations on Western Ghats; Traditional Ecological Knowledge.
USA Withdraws from 66 International Organizations — Including ISA
The Trump administration issued an executive order directing the United States to withdraw from 66 international organizations:
- Total: 35 non-UN organisations + 31 UN-affiliated bodies
- Key casualty for India: International Solar Alliance (ISA) — India-led coalition for promoting solar energy in tropical/subtropical countries (140+ member nations)
- Other notable organisations: Various UN specialised agencies, multilateral forums
- Policy basis: “America First” policy review — organisations deemed contrary to US interests
- Impact on ISA: Loss of US participation reduces political and financial weight; ISA was launched by India and France at COP21 (Paris, 2015)
- India’s response: India continues to champion ISA; seeks alternative partnerships
UPSC Angle: GS-2 International Relations — ISA’s mandate and founding (COP21; India + France; headquartered in Gurugram; One World, One Sun, One Grid initiative); US multilateralism under Trump; impact on climate finance and renewable energy cooperation; India’s leadership in ISA.
Kalpetta District Court — India’s First Paperless Court
Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant inaugurated India’s first fully paperless district court at Kalpetta, Wayanad, Kerala (January 9, 2026):
- What it means: All court functions — filing, case management, judgments, summons, notices — conducted entirely digitally (no physical paper)
- Technology: AI-based judicial assistance tools for judges and litigants; real-time case tracking
- Significance: Demonstration model for courts across India; addresses case pendency (over 5 crore cases pending in Indian courts)
- National Court Management Systems (NCMS): eCourts Mission Mode Project framework under which such initiatives are implemented
- Context: India’s eCourts Phase III (2023–2027; Rs 7,210 crore) focuses on AI, digital filings, virtual hearings
UPSC Angle: GS-2 Governance — Judicial modernisation; eCourts Mission Mode Project; CJI’s role in judicial administration; NCMS; pendency crisis in Indian courts; access to justice; GS-3 — AI applications in government.
Bio-Bitumen — India Becomes First Country to Commercially Produce
CSIR-Central Road Research Institute (CRRI) and CSIR-Indian Institute of Petroleum (IIP) achieved a landmark — making India the first country to commercially produce bio-bitumen:
- What is bio-bitumen: A plant-based, sustainable alternative to conventional petroleum-derived bitumen (used in road construction)
- Blending rate: 15% bio-bitumen mixed with conventional bitumen
- Economic impact: 15% blending projected to save ~Rs 4,500 crore in foreign exchange per year (by reducing crude/bitumen imports)
- CSIR-CRRI: Central Road Research Institute; New Delhi; India’s apex road research institution
- CSIR-IIP: Indian Institute of Petroleum; Dehradun; petroleum product development
- Significance: Green infrastructure; import substitution; India’s road sector consumes enormous quantities of bitumen (nearly 100% imported)
UPSC Angle: GS-3 Economy/S&T — Import substitution; green technology in infrastructure; CSIR’s applied research mandate; road construction in India (PMGSY, NH network); energy security; bio-based materials in construction.
VBYLD 2026 — Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue
The 2nd edition of Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue (VBYLD 2026) was held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi (January 9–12, 2026):
- Organisers: MyGov + Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- Theme: Viksit Bharat (Developed India by 2047)
- Participants: Young leaders (18–35 years) from across India selected through competitions
- Purpose: Connect youth to India’s development vision; generate youth-led policy inputs
- PM Modi’s involvement: Addressed participants on Viksit Bharat’s 9 pillars
- Bharat Mandapam: International exhibition and convention centre, Pragati Maidan, New Delhi; opened August 2023
UPSC Angle: GS-2 Governance — Youth engagement in policy; Viksit Bharat vision (100 years of Independence 2047); MyGov platform; National Youth Policy.
RBI Cancels Registrations of 35 NBFCs
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) cancelled the Certificate of Registration (CoR) of 35 Non-Banking Financial Companies (NBFCs), while 16 NBFCs voluntarily surrendered their registrations:
- Concentrated in: Delhi/NCR region
- Reasons: Non-compliance with RBI norms; failure to maintain required net-owned funds; non-submission of returns; some ceased NBFC activities
- RBI’s power: Under Section 45-IA(6) of Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934 — RBI can cancel CoR of NBFCs
- NBFC types: Investment/Loan companies, MFIs, HFCs, Core Investment Companies; regulated under Chapter III-B of RBI Act 1934
- Significance: RBI’s ongoing supervisory cleanup of the NBFC sector post-IL&FS collapse (2018)
UPSC Angle: GS-3 Economy — NBFC regulation; RBI supervisory powers; NBFC vs bank distinction; IL&FS crisis and financial stability; Certificate of Registration requirements; Section 45-IA RBI Act.
📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia
HPCL LC-Max RUF:
- Full form: Liquid Conversion–Maximum Residue Upgradation Facility
- Location: Visakhapatnam Refinery, Andhra Pradesh
- Investment: ₹31,407 crore; commissioned: January 5, 2026
- Conversion efficiency: ~93% low-value residue → high-value fuels
- Global first: world’s first AND largest LC-Max facility
- Part of Vizag Refinery Modernisation Project (8.3 MMTPA → 15 MMTPA)
- HPCL: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited; PSU under Ministry of Petroleum
18th Pravasi Bharatiya Divas 2026:
- Dates: January 8–10, 2026; Location: Bhubaneswar, Odisha (first time in Odisha)
- Theme: Diaspora’s Contribution to Viksit Bharat
- Chief Guest: Christine Kangaloo, President, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
- Inaugurated by PM Modi; presided by President Droupadi Murmu on Jan 10
- Indian diaspora: ~3.2 crore (world’s largest); remittances 2024: ~$125 billion (world’s largest recipient)
Nagauri Ashwagandha:
- Scientific name: Withania somnifera
- GI tag awarded; grown in Nagaur district, Rajasthan
- Known for: longer, thicker roots; dark red berries; rich in withanolides
- Use: Ayurvedic adaptogen (anti-stress, immunity)
Thanthai Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary:
- Location: Bargur Hills, Erode district, Tamil Nadu
- Corridor between: Sathyamangalam Tiger Reserve (TN) + Male Mahadeshwara WS (Karnataka)
- Part of Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve landscape
- Named after E. V. Ramasamy Periyar (Thanthai Periyar)
NQAS Framework:
- Full form: National Quality Assurance Standards
- Ministry: Health and Family Welfare; part of Ayushman Bharat/NHM
- Related schemes: Kayakalp (cleanliness), LaQshya (labour room), Mera Aspataal
Vande Bharat Sleeper:
- First route: Guwahati–Howrah; capacity: ~823 passengers
- Coaches: AC 3-tier + 2-tier + First Class; max speed: 160 km/h
BSNL VoWiFi:
- VoWiFi: Voice over WiFi (calls over Wi-Fi, same mobile number)
- BSNL revival: ₹1.64 lakh crore govt investment; TCS 4G tech (Atmanirbhar Bharat)
Weimar Triangle:
- Members: France, Germany, Poland; formed 1991
- Purpose: Strengthen European cooperation; originally focused on EU/NATO integration
- India’s participation in 2026: first non-EU partner invited to Weimar summit
- India–EU Trade and Technology Council (TTC): launched 2023
White-bellied Heron (Ardea insignis):
- IUCN: Critically Endangered; global population: <60 individuals
- India habitat: Namdapha TR + Kamlang WLS, Arunachal Pradesh
- ~45% of global population in Bhutan
- Threat: Kalai-II Hydropower Project (1,200 MW; Lohit River; Anjaw district; THDCIL)
H5N1 Avian Influenza — Kuttanad:
- Strain: H5N1 = Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI)
- First detected globally: 1996, Guangdong, China
- India poultry outbreaks: 2006 (first); Kerala: recurrent since 2015
- Kuttanad breeds affected: Chara and Chembally (duck breeds)
- Culling: ~55,000 birds; response: DART teams + NLDCP compensation
Census 2027:
- India’s first digital Census (tablets + mobile app; no paper)
- Governed by: Census Act, 1948; Registrar General and Census Commissioner (under MHA)
- First synchronous Census: 1881 (Commissioner: W.C. Plowden)
- Will include: OBC caste count (first time since 1931)
PANKHUDI Portal:
- Full form: Partnerships for Advancement of National Key Humanitarian and Upliftment Decisions and Initiatives
- Ministry: Women and Child Development (MoWCD)
- Purpose: CSR facilitation for women/children welfare schemes
- CSR mandate: Sec. 135, Companies Act 2013; 2% of avg net profit for eligible companies
GDP Growth — NSO First Advance Estimates FY26:
- Real GDP growth FY26: 7.4% (FY25: 8.2%; FY24: 7.0%)
- Nominal GDP growth: 8.0%
- Real GVA: 7.3%
- NSO: National Statistical Office; under MoSPI; releases First Advance Estimates in January each year
- GDP vs GVA: GDP = GVA + Taxes on products − Subsidies on products
Madhav Gadgil — Ecologist:
- Born: 1942; died January 7, 2026; age 83
- Title: “Father of Modern Indian Ecology”
- Institution: Centre for Ecological Sciences (CES), IISc Bengaluru (he founded it)
- Key role: Chaired Western Ghats Ecology Expert Panel (WGEEP / Gadgil Committee) — recommended 64% Western Ghats as Ecologically Sensitive Area
- Other contributions: Biological Diversity Act 2002; Biosphere Reserve concept; People’s Biodiversity Registers
- Awards: Padma Shri (1981), Padma Bhushan (2006), UN Champion of the Earth Award (2024)
International Solar Alliance (ISA):
- Launched: COP21, Paris, 2015; by PM Modi and French President Hollande
- HQ: Gurugram, Haryana, India
- Members: 140+ signatory countries (mainly intertropical zone)
- Mission: One World, One Sun, One Grid; mobilise $1 trillion solar investment by 2030
- Trump withdrawal impact: USA (major climate finance contributor) left ISA with 65 other organisations (executive order Jan 2026)
Kalpetta Paperless Court:
- Location: Kalpetta District Court, Wayanad district, Kerala
- Inaugurated: January 9, 2026; by CJI Surya Kant
- India’s first: Fully paperless (digital) district court
- Technology: AI-assisted judicial tools; digital filing; real-time case tracking
- eCourts Phase III: 2023–2027; Rs 7,210 crore; national rollout of digital court infrastructure
- Pendency crisis: 5+ crore cases pending in India’s subordinate courts
Bio-Bitumen (CSIR):
- Producers: CSIR-CRRI (Central Road Research Institute, Delhi) + CSIR-IIP (Indian Institute of Petroleum, Dehradun)
- India: First country to commercially produce bio-bitumen
- Blending: 15% bio-bitumen in conventional bitumen
- Savings: ~Rs 4,500 crore/year foreign exchange (import substitution)
- Bitumen usage: India builds ~15,000 km of roads annually; massive bitumen consumer
NBFC — RBI Cancellation:
- Cancelled: 35 NBFC Certificates of Registration; 16 voluntarily surrendered
- Legal basis: Section 45-IA(6) of RBI Act 1934
- Concentrated: Delhi/NCR; reasons: non-compliance, inadequate net-owned funds, inactive operations
- NBFC types: Investment company, Loan company, MFI, HFC, CIC (Core Investment Company)
- Minimum NOF (Net Owned Funds): Rs 10 crore required to operate as NBFC
Other Relevant Facts:
- SAI (Sports Authority of India): established 1984, after 9th Asian Games (New Delhi 1982); under Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports
- OPEC+ headquarters: Vienna; formed 2016 (OPEC 1960 Vienna; OPEC+ 2016 includes non-OPEC producers led by Russia)
- International Year for Rangelands and Pastoralists 2026: declared by UN; rangelands cover ~50% of Earth’s land surface
- THDCIL: Tehri Hydro Development Corporation India Limited; implements hydropower projects in North/Northeast India
- Namdapha Tiger Reserve: Changlang district, Arunachal Pradesh; India’s easternmost TR
- VBYLD 2026: 2nd Viksit Bharat Young Leaders’ Dialogue; Jan 9-12; Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi; MyGov + Ministry of Youth Affairs
- Western Ghats: UNESCO World Heritage Site (2012); 6 states — Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Goa, Maharashtra, Gujarat; biodiversity hotspot