🗞️ Why in News India’s 78th Army Day was celebrated in Jaipur — the theme “Year of Networking and Data Centricity” underscored the Army’s digital transformation push. The day also brought a gharial population survey showing 3,037 individuals in the Ganga basin, NITI Aayog’s Export Preparedness Index ranking Maharashtra first, and India officially heading into its BRICS Chairmanship year.

78th Army Day 2026 — Jaipur

India celebrated its 78th Army Day on January 15, 2026.

  • Venue: Mahal Road, Jaipur — the first time the Army Day Parade was held outside a cantonment in Jaipur, and only the fourth time the parade was held outside Delhi nationally
  • COAS: General Upendra Dwivedi presided over the parade and Investiture Ceremony at Sapta Shakti Auditorium, Jaipur Military Station
  • Theme: “Year of Networking and Data Centricity” — reflecting the Indian Army’s push toward AI-driven warfare, digital integration, cyber resilience, and integrated battle management systems

Gallantry Awards at Investiture Ceremony:

  • 10 Sena Medals (Gallantry) conferred
  • 49 COAS Unit Citations awarded
  • 60 COAS Certificates of Appreciation (including 26 for Operation Sindoor)
  • “Bravest of the Brave” Unit Award → 8 Assam Rifles
  • Posthumous Sena Medals to families of Subedar Major Pawan Kumar, Hawaldar Sunil Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Kumar, Lance Naik Subhash Kumar, and Lance Naik Pradeep Kumar

Weapons and systems displayed: BrahMos missile, Pinaka multi-barrel rocket launcher, main battle tanks, infantry combat vehicles, air defence platforms, unmanned aerial systems (UAVs), counter-drone equipment, robotic platforms, Shaktibaan system; aerial display by IAF jets and Army Aviation helicopters.

UPSC Angle: GS-3 Security & Defence — indigenisation, modernisation, AI-enabled warfare doctrine; GS-2 Defence Policy and Civil-Military relations.

Gharial Population Survey — 3,037 in Ganga Basin

A comprehensive gharial survey across the Ganga River basin counted 3,037 gharials (Gavialis gangeticus) inhabiting 13 surveyed rivers.

  • IUCN status: Critically Endangered
  • WPA 1972: Schedule I (highest protection)
  • Gharial is a fish-eating crocodilian — a flagship and indicator species for riverine ecosystem health
  • Key habitat: National Chambal Sanctuary (Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan); Katarniaghat WS (UP); Ken River; Girwa River
  • Survey conducted across 13 rivers of the Ganga basin including Chambal, Ken, Son, Ghaghra, and Gandak

UPSC Angle: GS-3 Biodiversity — three crocodilian species in India: Mugger, Saltwater Crocodile, Gharial; Project Crocodile (1975); National Chambal Sanctuary.

NITI Aayog Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024

NITI Aayog released the 4th edition of the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024.

Framework: 4 pillars — Export Infrastructure (20%), Business Ecosystem (40%), Policy & Governance (20%), Export Performance (20%); disaggregated into 13 sub-pillars and 70 indicators.

Top performers:

  • Large States: Maharashtra (68.01 score) → Tamil Nadu → Gujarat → Uttar Pradesh → Andhra Pradesh
  • Small States/UTs: Uttarakhand, J&K, Nagaland, Dadra & Nagar Haveli and Daman & Diu, Goa

National goal: USD 1 trillion in merchandise exports by 2030 (Viksit Bharat @2047).

India Assumes BRICS Chairmanship 2026

India officially took over BRICS Chairmanship for 2026 (from Brazil) as the host of the 18th BRICS Summit.

  • EAM S. Jaishankar unveiled India’s BRICS logo and theme on January 13, 2026
  • India’s chairmanship theme structured around four pillars: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Environmental Sustainability
  • This is India’s chairmanship of expanded BRICS (BRICS+): 10 members — Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa + Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE (added at Johannesburg Summit 2023)
  • 17th BRICS Summit: Kazan, Russia (October 2024, under Russia’s chairmanship)

UGC Equity Regulations 2026

The University Grants Commission (Promotion of Equity in Higher Education Institutions) Regulations, 2026 were notified on January 13, 2026.

  • Purpose: Eliminate caste-based discrimination in colleges/universities; covers SC, ST, OBC, minorities, women, PWD
  • Every Higher Education Institution (HEI) must establish an Equal Opportunity Centre and Equity Committee
  • Complaints acknowledged within 24 hours; resolved within 15 working days
  • Background: Follows 2019 PIL by Radhika Vemula (mother of Rohith Vemula) and Abeda Salim Tadvi (mother of Payal Tadvi) highlighting institutional caste discrimination
  • Note: The Supreme Court (CJ Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi) later stayed the regulations in January 2026, calling them prima facie “vague” and “easy to misuse”

India’s Bioeconomy: $10 Billion to $166 Billion in a Decade

Union Minister Dr. Jitendra Singh (Ministry of Science & Technology) highlighted India’s bioeconomy growth:

  • Bioeconomy grew 16-fold: from ~$10 billion (2014) to ~$166 billion (2024)
  • Biotech startups surged from 50–70 (2014) to over 11,000 (2026)
  • Market segments: Bio-Industrial (47%), BioPharma (35%), Bio-Research & IT (9%), Bio-Agri (8%)
  • Target: $300 billion bioeconomy in coming years (CAGR ~17–18%)
  • Context: Highlighted alongside BioE3 Policy (2024)

Forest Fire in Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve

A forest fire in the Nanda Devi Wildlife Forest Division, Chamoli district, Uttarakhand (from January 9, 2026) prompted deployment of an IAF Mi-17 V5 helicopter from Joshimath for aerial firefighting.

  • Fire location: rocky terrain between Alaknanda and Lakshman Ganga rivers, Govindghat range, Nanda Devi National Park
  • Valley of Flowers National Park (UNESCO WHS; ~87 sq km; Chamoli) was confirmed safe (~7 km aerial distance)
  • Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve: UNESCO World Heritage Site (1988)

IOA Launches NOEDP; Gagan Narang as NOA Director

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) launched the National Olympic Education and Development Programme (NOEDP) and reactivated the National Olympic Academy (NOA).

  • Director, NOA: Olympic medallist Gagan Narang (2012 London Olympics — 10m air rifle, Bronze)
  • NOA President: IOA President P.T. Usha
  • NOEDP covers Olympic values education, athlete welfare, career transition, coach capacity building
  • Decision taken at IOA Executive Council and AGM in Ahmedabad (January 8–9)

Chadar Trek Postponed — Zanskar River, Ladakh

The iconic Chadar Trek on the frozen Zanskar River, Ladakh was postponed in January 2026 due to weak ice formation caused by above-normal winter temperatures — a climate change signal for Himalayan regions.

Persons in News

General Upendra Dwivedi — Chief of Army Staff; presided over 78th Army Day Parade in Jaipur. Gagan Narang — Olympic bronze medallist (2012 London, 10m air rifle); appointed Director of National Olympic Academy (NOA).

UPSC Relevance

Prelims: Army Day (January 15; 78th in 2026; Jaipur; General Upendra Dwivedi); Sena Medal (Gallantry award; conferred on Army Day/Republic Day); Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus; Critically Endangered IUCN; Schedule I WPA; Project Crocodile 1975; National Chambal Sanctuary); EPI 2024 (4th edition; NITI Aayog; 4 pillars; 70 indicators; Maharashtra #1); BRICS 2026 (India chair; 18th Summit; 10 members; Johannesburg expansion 2023; 17th Summit Kazan 2024); UGC Equity Regulations 2026 (Rohith Vemula; Equal Opportunity Centre; 15 working days); BioE3 Policy (2024); India Bioeconomy ($166B; 11,000 startups); Nanda Devi BR (UNESCO WHS 1988; Chamoli, Uttarakhand); Valley of Flowers NP (UNESCO WHS; Chamoli); IAF Mi-17 V5 (helicopter; utility/firefighting/rescue); Chadar Trek (Zanskar River; Ladakh; frozen river trek); IOA (Indian Olympic Association); NOA (National Olympic Academy; Gagan Narang); NOEDP Mains GS-3: Army’s digital transformation — what does “Year of Networking and Data Centricity” mean for India’s defence modernisation? | Gharial conservation and Project Crocodile — is river ecosystem health improving? | India’s bioeconomy growth — can it sustain 17% CAGR? Mains GS-2: UGC Equity Regulations and institutional mechanisms against caste discrimination in universities | India’s BRICS chairmanship — strategic objectives and the challenge of leading an expanded, diverse grouping

📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia

78th Army Day 2026:

  • Date: January 15, 2026 (Army Day celebrated annually on Jan 15)
  • Venue: Mahal Road, Jaipur (first parade outside cantonment in Jaipur; 4th outside Delhi nationally)
  • COAS: General Upendra Dwivedi
  • Theme: “Year of Networking and Data Centricity”
  • Awards: 10 Sena Medals (Gallantry); 49 COAS Unit Citations; 60 COAS Certificates of Appreciation; “Bravest of the Brave” → 8 Assam Rifles

Gharial:

  • Scientific name: Gavialis gangeticus
  • IUCN: Critically Endangered
  • WPA 1972: Schedule I
  • 2026 survey: 3,037 in 13 rivers of Ganga basin
  • Key habitats: National Chambal Sanctuary (MP-UP-Rajasthan), Katarniaghat WS (UP), Ken River, Girwa River
  • Conservation: Project Crocodile (1975); National Chambal Sanctuary established 1978
  • Distinctive feature: Long, narrow snout (fish-eater); bulbous nose on males (ghara)

Three Crocodilians of India:

  • Mugger Crocodile (Crocodylus palustris): Freshwater; IUCN Vulnerable; Schedule I
  • Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus): Coastal/estuarine; Schedule I; Sundarbans, Bhitarkanika
  • Gharial (Gavialis gangeticus): River-dwelling; IUCN Critically Endangered; Schedule I

Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024:

  • Issuing body: NITI Aayog
  • Edition: 4th (first released August 2020)
  • Framework: 4 pillars × 13 sub-pillars × 70 indicators
  • Pillars: Export Infrastructure (20%), Business Ecosystem (40%), Policy & Governance (20%), Export Performance (20%)
  • Large States top 5: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, UP, Andhra Pradesh
  • National target: USD 1 trillion merchandise exports by 2030

BRICS 2026:

  • India assumes chairmanship: January 1, 2026 (from Brazil)
  • Summit: 18th BRICS Summit (to be hosted by India)
  • Chairmanship pillars: Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation, Environmental Sustainability
  • BRICS+ members (10): Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa + Egypt, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, UAE
  • Expansion: Johannesburg Summit 2023 (15th Summit, South Africa’s chairmanship)
  • 17th BRICS Summit: Kazan, Russia (October 2024)

UGC Equity Regulations 2026:

  • Notified: January 13, 2026
  • Key mechanisms: Equal Opportunity Centre (in every HEI), Equity Committee
  • Complaint timeline: Acknowledge 24 hours; resolve 15 working days
  • Background: Rohith Vemula (Hyderabad Central University, 2016) and Payal Tadvi (T.N. Topiwala National Medical College, 2019) cases
  • SC stay: January 29, 2026 (CJ Surya Kant bench — “vague” and “easy to misuse”)

India Bioeconomy:

  • Growth: $10 billion (2014) → $166 billion (2024/2026) — 16-fold
  • Biotech startups: 50-70 (2014) → 11,000+ (2026)
  • Target: $300 billion
  • BioE3 Policy (2024): Biotechnology for Economy, Environment, Employment

Sources: PIB, Indian Army, NITI Aayog, The Hindu, Indian Express