Current Affairs, 13 January 2026

Place and body

The lab will come up at the Gujarat Biotechnology Research Centre, Gandhinagar, a state-run centre.

Cost and size

The complex costs ₹362 crore and covers 11,000 square metres.

Purpose

It will study diseases that pass from animals to humans (zoonoses) and cut the need to send samples of dangerous viruses abroad.

Biosafety levels

Biosafety levels run from BSL-1 (lowest risk) to BSL-4 (highest risk). BSL-4 suits agents such as Ebola, Marburg and Nipah, and the Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever virus.

Related policy

The minister cited the Bio E-3 policy (Economy, Environment and Employment) and the One Health Mission.

Don’t confuse with BSL-3 vs BSL-4: BSL-3 handles serious agents with known cures or vaccines, such as TB bacteria. BSL-4 handles agents with no sure treatment, with full-suit containment.

Don’t confuse with Biosafety vs biosecurity: Biosafety protects people and the environment from accidental exposure to pathogens. Biosecurity guards against theft or deliberate misuse.

Science and technology: 57 Prelims questions since 2013; most test the concept behind the news, not the news itself. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

Compiler

MoSPI is revising the base of the IIP and has released a discussion paper for stakeholder views.

Current method

IIP uses a fixed-base Laspeyres framework, with weights unchanged until the base year is revised.

Why chain-based

Annual weight changes capture the rise and fall of industries and give better accuracy.

Sectors in IIP

IIP has three broad sectors: mining, manufacturing and electricity. Manufacturing has the largest weight.

Current base year

The current IIP base year is 2011-12.

Don’t confuse with IIP vs WPI: IIP measures volume of industrial output (MoSPI); WPI measures wholesale price changes (Office of Economic Adviser, DPIIT).

Don’t confuse with Laspeyres vs Paasche: Laspeyres uses base-period weights; Paasche uses current-period weights.

Economy terms and data: 42 Prelims questions since 2013, rising in recent years; they test what a term or instrument means. In Mains, 12 news-triggered questions.

1. 2021Mains GS3 · Q1Explain differences in India's GDP computation methodology before and after 2015
2. 2017Mains GS3 · Q12Why industrial growth lagged overall GDP growth in post-reform period
3. 2012Prelims Q39Which items are among the eight core industries within the IIP's combined weight
4. 2015Prelims Q8Which industry has the highest weight in the Index of Eight Core Industries

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Eligibility

Open to all Indian citizens, including NRI and OCI, below 18 years. The minor is the sole beneficiary and the guardian operates the account.

Contribution

Minimum initial and annual contribution is ₹250, with no maximum limit. Relatives and friends can also gift contributions.

Partial withdrawal

Allowed after three years from account opening, up to 25% of own contributions (excluding returns), for education, medical treatment and specified disabilities.

Regulator

PFRDA regulates the scheme; the guardian may choose any one PFRDA-registered pension fund.

Don’t confuse with NPS Vatsalya vs NPS Tier I: Vatsalya is for minors, with the guardian operating the account. Tier I is the regular NPS account, to which the subscriber can shift at majority.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2017Prelims Q29Who is eligible to join the National Pension System (NPS)?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Incentive rates

Incentive is 13%-18% for EV and hydrogen fuel cell components, and 8%-13% for other AAT components.

Domestic value addition

Only products with at least 50% Domestic Value Addition (DVA) get incentives.

Scheme period

Performance years run from FY 2023-24 to FY 2027-28, with disbursement from FY 2024-25 to FY 2028-29.

Ministry

The scheme is run by the Ministry of Heavy Industries.

Don’t confuse with PLI-Auto vs PLI-ACC: PLI-Auto (Rs 25,938 crore) supports auto and components. PLI-ACC (Rs 18,100 crore) supports 50 GWh of battery cell capacity.

Don’t confuse with PM E-DRIVE vs SMEC: PM E-DRIVE gives demand subsidies and charging support. SMEC allows limited e-car imports at lower duty in return for investment.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2025Mains GS3 · Q12Rationale, achievements, and improvements of the PLI scheme
2. 2025Mains GS3 · Q16Challenges in semiconductor manufacturing and India Semiconductor Mission features
3. 2023Prelims Q53Whether carbon fibres used in automobile and aircraft components can be recycled

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Policy origin

The GCT Policy was introduced by the Ministry of Railways on 15 December 2021 to speed up modern cargo terminal development.

Freight rebate

Terminals with 1 million tonnes or more of outward traffic get a 10% freight rebate on mid-section Block Hut/Block Station costs.

Construction deadline

Agencies granted approval must complete construction within 24 months.

Engine-on-load

Under EOL, the locomotive stays at the terminal during loading or unloading, waiting at railway cost within the free time, so the train leaves at once.

Maintenance support

Railways maintain track, signalling and OHE, excluding the yard and loading/unloading lines.

Don’t confuse with GCT Policy 2021 vs Master Circular 2022: The 2021 policy sets the framework. The 2022 Railway Board Master Circular gives detailed implementation guidelines.

Schemes: 52 Prelims questions since 2013, 10 in Prelims 2026 alone. They test features, the period and who funds it. In Mains, 33 news-triggered questions, mostly GS3.

1. 2022Mains GS2 · Q6Discuss government-private coordination needed for Gati Shakti connectivity goals
2. 2022Mains GS3 · Q1Why PPP is needed in infrastructure; its role in railway station redevelopment
3. 2014Mains GS2 · Q8Will rail tariff regulation benefit consumers, Railways, or private container operators?
4. 2026Prelims Q24How Vizhinjam port signals a structural shift in maritime logistics policy
5. 2000Prelims Q71Which Indian port handles the highest tonnage of import cargo?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Venue of this meeting

The ADMM-Plus meeting at which the ministers met was held in Cebu, Philippines, in October 2026.

Bilateral on the sidelines

India and the US reviewed the 10-year India-US Defence Framework and the Major Defence Partnership.

Terrorism stand

India called for zero tolerance towards states that support, train or fund terrorist groups. The US backed India against cross-border terrorism.

Membership

ADMM-Plus has the ten ASEAN states plus eight partners: Australia, China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Russia, South Korea and the US.

First meeting

The inaugural ADMM-Plus was held in Hanoi, Vietnam, on 12 October 2010.

Frequency

Since 2017, ADMM-Plus ministers have met every year.

India's role

India co-chairs the Experts Working Group on Counter-Terrorism with Malaysia for 2024-2027.

ADMM status

The ADMM is the highest defence consultative and cooperative mechanism in ASEAN.

Areas of cooperation

ADMM-Plus has seven EWG areas: maritime security, counter-terrorism, humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, peacekeeping, military medicine, humanitarian mine action and cyber security.

Co-chair duties

Co-chairs set objectives and guidelines at the start, hold at least two EWG meetings a year, and run an exercise for all members in the third year.

Launch

ADMM-Plus was launched in Hanoi, Vietnam, in 2010. Its first meeting was held there.

Don’t confuse with ADMM vs ADMM-Plus: ADMM has only the ten ASEAN members. ADMM-Plus adds the eight dialogue partners.

Don’t confuse with ADMM-Plus vs East Asia Summit: ADMM-Plus is a defence ministers' forum. The East Asia Summit is a leaders' summit on political, security and economic issues.

Don’t confuse with ADMM-Plus vs ASEAN Regional Forum: ARF is a wider foreign-ministry security dialogue; ADMM-Plus is a defence ministers' forum for practical cooperation.

Don’t confuse with ADMM-Plus vs ARF: ADMM-Plus is a defence-ministry forum for practical cooperation. The ASEAN Regional Forum is a wider foreign-policy security dialogue.

International bodies and relations: the largest group of news questions in Prelims (61 since 2013), often about background, members and location. In Mains, 27 news-triggered questions, mostly on India's interests.

1. 2021Mains GS2 · Q20Whether AUKUS will supersede existing Indo-Pacific partnerships; assess strength and impact.
2. 2020Mains GS2 · Q20Significance of Indo-US defence deals over Indo-Russian, for Indo-Pacific stability.
3. 2026Mains GS2 · Q9Critically assess IPMDA as bridge between SAGAR and Quad strategy.
4. 2005Prelims Q66Which listed country is not an ASEAN member?
5. 2006Prelims Q63Which listed country is not an ASEAN member?

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.

Who led it

The task force was headed by Pullela Gopichand, the national head coach of Indian badminton.

National Coach Accreditation Board

NCAB is proposed as the apex body for coach education, accreditation and governance. It would set standards, approve pathways and accredit institutions.

Tiered pathway

The pathway has Grassroots, Intermediate, Elite and National Team Coach levels, with Level 0 as the universal entry stage.

Practice-first education

Of 1,800 hours of coach education, about 78 percent would be hands-on practice, under a Practice–Theory–Practice approach.

TOPS for Coaches

Modelled on the Target Olympic Podium Scheme for athletes, it would give high-performing coaches financial and institutional support.

Sports science helpline

A 24/7 National Sports Science Helpline is proposed, reachable by toll-free number, app and portal.

Don’t confuse with NCAB vs National Anti-Doping Agency: NCAB is only a proposed body for coach accreditation. NADA is an existing agency that handles anti-doping.

Don’t confuse with TOPS vs TOPS for Coaches: TOPS is an existing scheme supporting athletes. TOPS for Coaches is only a recommendation of the task force.

Reports and indices: 14 Prelims questions since 2013; they test who publishes a report and what it measures.

1. 2014Mains ESSAY · Q3Whether India can win fifty Olympic golds, essay on sports potential
2. 2014Mains GS2 · Q12Merit of state-sponsored talent hunt versus reward mechanisms for athletes
3. 2023Prelims Q95Which sports award and institution pairs are correctly matched

UPSC’s own questions that come close to this issue, from our Prelims and Mains banks.