🗞️ Why in News January 20, 2026 featured landmark developments in India–UAE relations, environmental governance, marine biodiversity conservation, and blue economy policy — including a dolphin survey launch, India’s first open-sea fish farming project, and new Environmental Protection Fund rules under the Jan Vishwas Act, 2023.

International Affairs

India–UAE Strategic Partnership — Trade Target USD 200 Billion by 2032

India and UAE pledged to double bilateral trade to USD 200 billion by 2032 (from current levels of ~USD 85 billion), with a series of landmark deals announced:

  • USD 3 billion LNG deal: ADNOC Gas (Abu Dhabi National Oil Company Gas) will supply Liquefied Natural Gas to Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited (HPCL) for 10 years
  • UAE participation in Dholera SIR: UAE investors to participate in the Dholera Special Investment Region — India’s greenfield smart city in Gujarat
  • Strategic Defence Partnership: Letter of intent signed, covering defence manufacturing and procurement cooperation
  • “House of India” in Abu Dhabi: A cultural and commercial centre to facilitate India-UAE people-to-people ties and trade

Background: India–UAE bilateral trade reached ~USD 84.5 billion in 2023-24. The UAE is India’s second-largest export destination and third-largest trading partner. The India–UAE Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), signed February 2022 (effective May 2022), was India’s fastest-concluded FTA.

Gaza Peace Board — India Invited

The Trump administration invited approximately 60 nations — including India — to join a proposed Gaza Peace Board, an international body to oversee ceasefire implementation and post-conflict reconstruction in Gaza. The board would be chaired by the US with veto powers under a draft charter. Other invitees include Egypt, Jordan, Türkiye, Canada, and Argentina.

Exercise DOSTI 17 — Trilateral Coast Guard Exercise

The 17th edition of Exercise DOSTI — India, Sri Lanka, and Maldives’ trilateral coast guard exercise — was conducted January 17–19 in Male, Maldives. It focused on maritime cooperation, VBSS (Visit Board Search and Seizure) drills, and marine pollution response.

Background: DOSTI (Hindi for “friendship”) is a biennial exercise initiated in 1991 between India and Maldives; Sri Lanka joined in 2012.

Environment & Ecology

Second Nationwide Dolphin Survey — Launched in Bijnor, UP

Union Minister Bhupender Yadav launched India’s second nationwide riverine dolphin survey in Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, led by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

The previous survey (2021–23) recorded approximately 6,327 riverine dolphins across India. The current survey will provide updated population, distribution, and threat data.

Gangetic River Dolphin (Platanista gangetica):

  • India’s National Aquatic Animal (declared in 2009)
  • IUCN Status: Endangered
  • Schedule I, Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 (highest protection)
  • Habitat: Ganga, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Ghaghra, Son, Kosi rivers
  • Virtually blind — navigates entirely by echolocation
  • Indicator species: Their presence indicates river health
  • Threats: Illegal fishing (bycatch), dam construction (fragmenting habitat), pollution, sand mining

Environmental Protection Fund Rules — Jan Vishwas Act, 2023

The government notified detailed rules under the Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023 specifying that penalties from environmental law violations will be channelled into an Environmental Protection Fund for pollution control, ecological restoration, monitoring, research, and capacity building.

Jan Vishwas Act, 2023: Decriminalised 183 provisions across 42 laws, converting criminal penalties (jail terms) to monetary penalties for minor environmental and other regulatory violations — reducing the compliance burden on businesses and individuals.

Greenhouse Gas Emission Intensity (GEI) Target Rules, 2025

New GEI Target Amendment Rules, 2025 were notified, setting sector-specific targets for reducing greenhouse gas emission intensity across industrial sectors. These regulations are part of India’s Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS) — a domestic carbon market under the Energy Conservation Act, 2001 (amended 2022).

Economy & Development

Export Promotion Mission (EPM) — NIRYAT DISHA and NIRYAT PROTSAHAN

The government announced an Export Promotion Mission (EPM) with associated schemes:

  • NIRYAT DISHA: Export promotion guidance and facilitation framework
  • NIRYAT PROTSAHAN: Export credit interest subvention scheme implemented through RBI — reduces borrowing costs for exporters

World Bank — USD 286 Million for West Bengal Healthcare

The World Bank approved a USD 286 million loan for West Bengal’s Health System Reform Program. The loan has a 16.5-year tenure with a 3-year grace period and aims to benefit approximately 90 million people in the state.

MSME Technology Centres — Himachal Pradesh

Two new MSME Technology Centres were approved in Pandoga and Parwanoo, Himachal Pradesh at a cost of ₹10 crore each. They will focus on engineering, plastics, and automation sectors.

Science & Technology

India’s First Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project — Andaman Sea

India’s first open-sea marine fish farming project was launched in the Andaman Sea near Sri Vijaya Puram (formerly Port Blair), Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Partners: Ministry of Earth Sciences, National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the UT Administration. The project focuses on marine finfish cultivation and seaweed farming.

Significance: India’s EEZ (Exclusive Economic Zone) of ~2.37 million sq. km offers enormous untapped potential for mariculture — ocean-based aquaculture outside the coastal zone.

Delhi Safe City Project 2026

Delhi government announced deployment of 10,000 AI cameras with face recognition and distress detection technology across the capital. Part of the broader Smart City + Safe City integration.

Automatic Weather Stations — Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Pune

MoS Dr. Jitendra Singh announced deployment of 200 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) — 50 each in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, and Pune — enhancing hyperlocal weather forecasting. India now operates ~1,000 AWS nationwide.

Governance & Appointments

Praveen Vashista — Vigilance Commissioner, CVC

Praveen Vashista was appointed as Vigilance Commissioner at the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). An IPS officer (1991 batch), he has a 4-year tenure or until age 65, whichever is earlier.

CVC Background: An independent statutory body (CVC Act, 2003) for superintendence of vigilance administration in central government. The Chief Vigilance Commissioner (CVC head) is appointed by the President on recommendation of a committee comprising PM, Home Minister, and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha.

Vande Bharat Sleeper Train — Howrah–Guwahati

PM Modi flagged off India’s first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train on the Howrah–Guwahati route, extending overnight travel on the Vande Bharat platform. The sleeper variant bridges the gap between the existing Vande Bharat chair-car day trains and conventional overnight sleeper expresses.

Persons in News

  • Praveen Vashista — Appointed Vigilance Commissioner, CVC (IPS, 1991 batch)
  • Shaea Muhssin Mohammed Al-Zindani — Appointed new Prime Minister of Yemen, replacing Salem bin Braik

UPSC Relevance

Prelims: India–UAE CEPA (February 2022); ADNOC Gas–HPCL LNG deal ($3 billion, 10 years); Gangetic Dolphin (National Aquatic Animal, Endangered, Schedule I WPA); WII leading dolphin survey; Exercise DOSTI 17 (India-Sri Lanka-Maldives, Male); Jan Vishwas Act 2023 (183 provisions, 42 laws decriminalised); Vande Bharat Sleeper (Howrah-Guwahati); CVC Act 2003 Mains GS-2: India–UAE bilateral relations trajectory; Gaza Peace Board and India’s West Asia strategy; CVC structure and independence Mains GS-3: Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS); GEI targets for industrial decarbonisation; open-sea mariculture in India’s EEZ; Export Promotion Mission architecture; World Bank healthcare loan as an instrument of health system reform

📌 Facts Corner — Knowledgepedia

India–UAE Relations:

  • Bilateral trade (2023-24): ~USD 84.5 billion
  • Target: USD 200 billion by 2032
  • CEPA: Signed February 18, 2022; effective May 1, 2022 — India’s fastest FTA; India’s first CEPA in 4+ years
  • UAE rank in India’s trade: 2nd largest export destination; 3rd largest trade partner
  • LNG deal: ADNOC Gas → HPCL; USD 3 billion; 10 years
  • Dholera SIR: Greenfield smart city, Gujarat; industrial township; DMIC node
  • House of India: Cultural-commercial centre in Abu Dhabi

Gangetic River Dolphin:

  • National Aquatic Animal of India (declared 2009)
  • Scientific name: Platanista gangetica
  • IUCN: Endangered | Schedule I WPA 1972
  • 2021-23 survey count: ~6,327 individuals
  • Distribution: Ganga, Brahmaputra, Chambal, Ghaghra, Son, Kosi systems
  • Feature: Virtually blind; navigates by echolocation (biosonar)
  • Threats: Bycatch, dam construction, sand mining, water pollution
  • Project Dolphin: Launched PM Modi (World Environment Day 2020) modelled on Project Tiger

Jan Vishwas (Amendment of Provisions) Act, 2023:

  • Provisions decriminalised: 183 across 42 central laws
  • Approach: Criminal penalties (jail) → Monetary penalties for minor offences
  • Laws covered: Environment, agriculture, trade, labour, food safety
  • Environmental Protection Fund: Penalty money → pollution control, restoration, research

Carbon Credit Trading Scheme (CCTS):

  • Legal basis: Energy Conservation (Amendment) Act, 2022
  • GEI targets: Sector-specific intensity reduction targets (not absolute caps)
  • Regulator: Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) under MoPNG
  • Market: Carbon credits tradeable on power exchanges

Exercise DOSTI:

  • Participants: India, Sri Lanka, Maldives (trilateral)
  • Founded: 1991 (India-Maldives bilateral); Sri Lanka joined 2012
  • Frequency: Biennial
  • 17th edition: January 2026, Male, Maldives
  • Focus: Maritime security, VBSS drills, pollution response

CVC (Central Vigilance Commission):

  • Legal basis: CVC Act, 2003 (given statutory backing)
  • Established: 1964 (originally executive, made statutory in 2003)
  • Appointment: President’s recommendation; Committee: PM + Home Minister + LoP (Lok Sabha)
  • Supervision: Superintendence over CBI (referral cases) and Vigilance Officers in central government

Other Relevant Facts:

  • NIOT (National Institute of Ocean Technology): Under Ministry of Earth Sciences; develops ocean tech
  • India’s EEZ: ~2.37 million sq. km (7th largest globally)
  • WII (Wildlife Institute of India): Autonomous institute under MoEFCC; conducts national surveys of tigers, elephants, dolphins
  • BSNL-Viasat: Ka-band + L-band SatCom integration for Indian Navy
  • AWS (Automatic Weather Stations): India target 1,000+ for hyperlocal forecasting (IMD)

Sources: Insights on India, AffairsCloud, PIB