Daily Current Affairs- 19th January 2026

Daily Current Affairs- 19th January 2026

Indian Railways Highest Honour for Chandana Sinha

In the News: Railway Protection Force (RPF) Inspector Chandana Sinha, working out of Lucknow's Charbagh station, has led the rescue of more than 1,500 children over the past three years across Uttar Pradesh's rail network. Many of these children were intercepted just moments before being pulled into trafficking routes or exploitative labour. In June 2024, she was appointed to lead Operation Nanhe Farishte, Indian Railways' child rescue initiative.

Key Points:

• Rescue Achievement: Over the past three years, Inspector Sinha has rescued more than 1,500 children from railway stations across Uttar Pradesh. In 2025 alone, her team has rescued 1,032 children, including 39 trafficked for labour and a six-year-old girl.
• Operation Nanhe Farishte Leadership: In June 2024, Sinha was appointed to lead Operation Nanhe Farishte, Indian Railways' child rescue initiative. Her unit, comprising mostly women officers, focuses on known trafficking routes from Bihar to Punjab and Haryana, targeting children aged 13-15 travelling with unfamiliar adults.
• Innovative Detection Methods: Sinha developed specialized observation techniques that go beyond routine patrols. She trained officers to read body language, track patterns, and spot mismatches between children and their companions.
• Collaborative Approach: Sinha's team works closely with NGOs and district authorities, creating records and follow-ups that extend beyond single train journeys. The work involves coordination with organizations like the Association for Voluntary Action, part of Bachpan Bachao Andolan, and Childline centres.
• Expanded Mandate: This work extends beyond RPF's original mandate of protecting railway property and passengers.  Appointed to lead Operation Nanhe Farishte operations in Lucknow Division" and the anti-human trafficking initiative, the force has prioritized child protection, with Sinha taking ownership in a way rarely seen in RPF units.

PESA Act Implemented in Jharkhand After 25 Years

In the News: Jharkhand has finally implemented the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, commonly known as the PESA Act, after a delay of 25 years since the legislation was enacted. This landmark implementation empowers tribal communities in scheduled areas with self-governance and control over local resources.

Key Points:

• Historic Implementation: Jharkhand has operationalized the PESA Act after 25 years of its enactment at the national level in 1996. The state has framed and notified PESA rules, enabling gram sabhas in scheduled areas to exercise powers for self-governance and natural resource management.
• PESA Act Background: The Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996, was enacted to extend provisions of Part IX of the Constitution (relating to Panchayats) to Scheduled Areas with modifications. The Act recognizes the traditional rights of tribal communities and aims to ensure self-governance through gram sabhas.
• Coverage in Jharkhand: The PESA Act applies to Fifth Schedule areas in Jharkhand, which comprise a significant portion of the state with substantial tribal populations. These areas are predominantly inhabited by Scheduled Tribes and have distinct social, cultural, and administrative requirements.
• Powers to Gram Sabhas: Under PESA implementation, gram sabhas (village assemblies) in scheduled areas now have authority over matters including land acquisition, minor water bodies, minor minerals, management of village markets, control over local plans and resources, and traditional dispute resolution mechanisms.
• Natural Resource Management: The Act empowers tribal communities to manage and protect community resources including forests, minor forest produce (MFP), water resources, and minor minerals.
• Cultural and Traditional Rights: PESA recognizes and protects the traditional practices, cultural identity, and customary rights of tribal communities. It safeguards tribal self-governance systems and ensures that development does not undermine indigenous traditions and social structures.

High Seas Treaty Comes into Force: New Global Rules to Protect Oceans Explained

In the News: The High Seas Treaty, officially known as the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement, has entered into force, establishing the first-ever comprehensive legal framework to protect marine biodiversity in international waters

Key Points:

• Treaty Entry into Force: The High Seas Treaty came into force after the required number of countries ratified the agreement. The treaty represents a historic achievement after nearly two decades of negotiations under the United Nations framework, addressing the urgent need to protect ocean ecosystems.
• Coverage and Scope: The treaty applies to the high seas, which constitute nearly two-thirds of the world's oceans lying beyond the 200 nautical mile Exclusive Economic Zones (EEZs) of coastal states. These areas cover approximately 95% of the ocean's volume but have lacked comprehensive legal protection until now.
• Key Provisions - Marine Protected Areas: The treaty enables the establishment of Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) in international waters, allowing countries to designate and manage conservation zones to protect critical marine habitats, biodiversity hotspots, and vulnerable ecosystems from harmful activities.
• Environmental Impact Assessments: The agreement mandates Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) for activities planned in the high seas that may have significant environmental impacts.
• Governance Structure: The treaty establishes a Conference of Parties (COP) as the decision-making body, along with scientific and technical committees to oversee implementation, review conservation measures, and adapt policies based on scientific evidence and changing ocean conditions.
• Global Significance: The High Seas Treaty addresses critical threats to ocean health including overfishing, deep-sea mining, pollution, and climate change impacts. It complements existing frameworks like the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and supports global biodiversity targets.

Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024

In the News: NITI Aayog released the Export Preparedness Index (EPI) 2024, a comprehensive assessment of export readiness across India's States and Union Territories. This is the fourth edition of the Index, with the first edition published in August 2020. The Index is aligned with India's objective of achieving USD 1 trillion in merchandise exports by 2030 and the vision of Viksit Bharat @2047.

Key Points:

• Framework Structure: The EPI 2024 is structured around 4 pillars, 13 sub-pillars, and 70 indicators. The four pillars with their weightages are: Export Infrastructure (20%), Business Ecosystem (40%), Policy & Governance (20%), and Export Performance (20%).
• New Analytical Dimensions: The 2024 edition strengthens analytical depth through the inclusion of new dimensions such as macroeconomic stability, cost competitiveness, human capital, financial access, and the MSME ecosystem, while refining existing indicators to enhance precision and policy relevance.
• Classification System: States and UTs are categorized into Large States & Small States, North East States, and Union Territories. Within each category, they are classified as Leaders (high export preparedness), Challengers (moderate preparedness with scope for improvement), and Aspirers (early stages of export ecosystem development).
• District-Level Focus: Greater emphasis has been placed on districts as core units of export competitiveness, translating national export objectives into actionable, place-based strategies anchored in local capabilities, industrial clusters, and value-chain linkages.
• Top Performing Large States: Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, and Andhra Pradesh emerged as leading performers among Large States in export preparedness.
• Top Performing Small States/UTs/NE States: Uttarakhand, Jammu and Kashmir, Nagaland, Dadra and Nagar Haveli & Daman and Diu, and Goa emerged as top performers in their respective categories.

Davos 2026: Key Dates, Theme, Participants and Global Challenges in Focus

In the News: The World Economic Forum (WEF) Annual Meeting 2026, commonly known as Davos 2026, is set to convene global leaders, business executives, and policymakers in Davos, Switzerland.

Key Points:

• Event Dates and Venue: The WEF Annual Meeting 2026 is scheduled to take place in Davos-Klosters, Switzerland, typically held in January 19th to 23rd. The event brings together world leaders, CEOs, international organizations, and civil society representatives for high-level discussions on global issues.
• Theme and Focus Areas: The key theme of the World Economic Forum this year is "A Spirit of Dialogue". The 2026 meeting theme centers on rebuilding trust, fostering collaboration, and addressing systemic challenges. Key focus areas include sustainable development, artificial intelligence governance, energy transition, global health security, and inclusive economic growth.
• Climate and Sustainability Agenda: Climate action remains a central priority, with sessions on accelerating the transition to net-zero emissions, mobilizing climate finance, and implementing sustainable business practices.
• Indian Participation: India is expected to have significant representation at Davos 2026, with government ministers, business leaders, and startup founders participating.
• Key Participants: The event typically attracts heads of state, finance ministers, central bank governors, Fortune 500 CEOs, leading entrepreneurs, Nobel laureates, and representatives from international organizations like the IMF, World Bank, and United Nations.

IMF Lifts 2026 Global Growth Outlook to 3.3%

In the News: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has revised its global economic growth forecast for 2026 upward to 3.3%, reflecting improved economic conditions and stronger-than-expected recovery across major economies.

Key Points:

• Growth Forecast Revision: The IMF upgraded its 2026 global growth projection to 3.3%, marking an upward revision from previous estimates. This reflects better economic fundamentals and resilient global demand despite ongoing geopolitical and economic challenges.
• Advanced Economies Outlook: European economies are anticipated to recover from recent slowdowns, contributing to the improved global outlook.
• Emerging Markets and Developing Economies: Emerging markets and developing economies (EMDEs) are projected to be key drivers of global growth in 2026. Countries in Asia, particularly India and China, are expected to contribute significantly to the overall economic expansion.
• India's Growth Trajectory: India is forecasted to remain among the fastest-growing major economies in 2026, with robust domestic demand, infrastructure investment, and digital economy expansion driving growth.

Second Range wide Dolphin Survey Launched Under Project Dolphin

In the News: India has launched the second range-wide Dolphin Survey under Project Dolphin from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh. This comprehensive survey aims to assess the population and distribution of both Gangetic river dolphins and marine dolphins across India's river systems and coastal waters.

Key Points:

• Survey Launch: The second range-wide Dolphin Survey was initiated from Bijnor, Uttar Pradesh, as part of Project Dolphin's ongoing conservation efforts. This survey builds upon the baseline data collected during the first range-wide assessment.
• Survey Scope and Coverage: The survey covers major river systems including the Ganga, Brahmaputra, Indus, and their tributaries where Gangetic river dolphins (Platanista gangetica) are found. It also includes coastal areas for marine dolphin species assessment across multiple states.
• Project Dolphin Background: Project Dolphin was announced on Independence Day 2020 as a flagship initiative for dolphin conservation in India. The project focuses on both freshwater (Gangetic dolphins) and marine dolphins, similar to Project Tiger's comprehensive approach.
• Conservation Objectives: The survey aims to generate updated population estimates, identify critical habitats, assess threats to dolphin populations, and develop targeted conservation strategies. Data collection includes population counts, habitat mapping, and threat assessment.
• Scientific Methodology: The survey employs standardized protocols including direct visual observations, acoustic monitoring, and community participation. Trained surveyors and volunteers work together to ensure comprehensive coverage of dolphin habitats.
• Gangetic River Dolphin Status: The Gangetic river dolphin is India's National Aquatic Animal and is listed as Endangered on the IUCN Red List. It is found primarily in the Ganga-Brahmaputra-Meghna and Indus river systems.