UPSC current affairs · Monday

Current Affairs, 19 January 2026

4 issues picked from 37 PIB releases · about 2 minutes each · written by UPSC Grade, each fact checked against its PIB release or by a second model

How to readRead “Why in news” and “What it is” for every issue. Open For Prelims or For Mains for the exam you’re preparing for, then Test yourself at the foot of each card. Half the news questions in Prelims are answered from background, not the news itself.

In 60 seconds

Border Roads Organisation (BRO). PIB profiles BRO: 1960 origin, record spending, border roads, tunnels, overseas projects, disaster response.
National Board for Wildlife and its Standing Committee. SC-NBWL's 88th meeting cleared-to-consider 70 projects near protected areas, including 17 defence proposals in Ladakh and Sikkim.
Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme. TDB and BIRAC approved as first RDI Fund managers; Rs 2,000 crore each; calls due January.
India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. India and UAE set a $200 billion trade target by 2032 and deepen defence, energy and tech ties.

Defence and security

Border Roads Organisation (BRO)

GS3 Internal Security / Border infrastructureGS2 Government bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 19 January 2026, PIB published a explainer on the Border Roads Organisation (BRO). It reports record spending of ₹16,690 crore in FY 2024–25 and a ₹17,900 crore target for FY 2025–26.
What it is: The Border Roads Organisation is the Government of India's border infrastructure agency. It builds and maintains strategic roads, bridges, tunnels and airfields in border and remote areas for military and civilian use. It is staffed by GREF, Army engineers and civilian workers, and also works in friendly neighbouring countries.

Origin and motto: BRO was born on 7 May 1960. Its motto is 'Shramena Sarvam Sadhyam' (through hard work, all things are possible).
Parent ministry: Since 2015–16 BRO has worked fully under the Ministry of Defence. Before that it was partly under the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.
Workforce: BRO rests on the General Reserve Engineer Force (GREF) and Indian Army engineer officers, supported by civilian staff and Casual Paid Labourers.
Project Dantak, Bhutan: Dantak, launched in 1961, is BRO's oldest and most lasting overseas mission. It has built bridges and airports such as Paro and Yonphula in Bhutan.
Delaram–Zaranj Highway: BRO built the 218 km Delaram–Zaranj Highway (Route 606) in Afghanistan. It gives Afghanistan direct access to Iran and Chabahar Port.
Atal Tunnel: The 9.02 km Atal Tunnel under Rohtang Pass is called the world's longest highway tunnel above 10,000 ft. It gives all-weather Leh–Manali connectivity.

Don’t confuse with BRO vs BRDB: BRO is the executing agency. The Border Roads Development Board, set up in 1960, is the policy body that oversees it.

Don’t confuse with GREF vs Army engineers: GREF is a force of civilian-status engineers. Army engineer officers are serving military personnel. Both staff BRO.

Defence: Prelims tests exercises (with whom), equipment (who makes it) and firsts.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Standing body with facts (founded 1960, overseas projects) but defence bodies rarely reach Mains; only 8 Prelims questions on defence since 2013.

Source: PIB Headquarters, 19 Jan, 10:50 IST · Release 282431

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Law and statutory body

National Board for Wildlife and its Standing Committee

GS3 Environment - Wildlife conservation bodiesPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 19 January 2026, Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav chaired the 88th meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife in New Delhi. It considered 70 proposals in and around protected areas, including 17 defence-related ones.
What it is: The National Board for Wildlife (NBWL) is a statutory body set up under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. It is the apex advisory body on wildlife policy and is chaired by the Prime Minister. Its Standing Committee, chaired by the Environment Minister, appraises projects in and around protected areas.

Who chaired: The Environment Minister chaired the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee at Coimbatore.
Legal basis: Wildlife clearances for projects are sought under the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972.
Species items: Agenda items covered the Greater One-horned Rhino DNA Indexing strategy, Great Indian Bustard strategy, and adding the Pygmy Hog to the Species Recovery Programme.
NBWL chair: The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister; its 7th meeting was under the PM.
Statutory status: NBWL was constituted under Section 5A of the Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972, as amended in 2002.
Proposals considered: 58 fresh proposals were considered, across sectors such as power lines, roads, defence, irrigation and water supply.
Policy matters: The Committee discussed e-flows in the Chambal River for dolphins and gharials, villages inside tiger reserves, grasslands and the human-leopard interface.
Chair of the Board: The full NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister.
Chair: The 88th meeting was chaired by the Union Environment Minister, Bhupender Yadav.
Defence proposals: Seventeen defence proposals, mainly in Ladakh and Sikkim, were recommended for strategic border and high-altitude infrastructure.
Process reform: The Committee reviewed the Action Taken Report, including improvement of the PARIVESH portal.

Don’t confuse with NBWL vs National Tiger Conservation Authority: NBWL is under the Wild Life (Protection) Act and advises on all wildlife policy. The NTCA is a separate statutory body for tiger conservation and tiger reserves.

Don’t confuse with NBWL vs Forest Advisory Committee: The Standing Committee of NBWL appraises projects affecting protected areas. The Forest Advisory Committee examines forest land diversion under the Forest (Conservation) Act.

Don’t confuse with NBWL vs its Standing Committee: The NBWL is chaired by the Prime Minister and sets broad policy advice. The Standing Committee, chaired by the Environment Minister, appraises specific projects in and around protected areas.

Don’t confuse with Advisory role: Both bodies advise and recommend. Final project decisions rest with the government.

Laws, judgments and statutory bodies: 30 Prelims questions since 2013 (what the law says, who chairs, legal basis). In Mains, 44 news-triggered questions, most in GS2, asking for provisions and challenges.

Why it matters

It is the main national forum that balances development projects with wildlife habitat protection.
Its reviews of species plans, such as for the Great Indian Bustard and rhino, guide recovery work.
Gives a statutory check on projects near protected areas, balancing development with conservation.
Brings research institutions such as the Wildlife Institute of India into policy advice.
It is the main check on projects in and around protected areas, balancing development with conservation.
Clearing defence and border infrastructure shows how security needs are weighed against ecology.

Problems

Clearing many projects, including mining and linear infrastructure, can fragment habitats and weaken connectivity.
Mitigation measures are hard to monitor once a project is cleared.
Criticism that most project proposals are cleared, so scrutiny of ecological costs is weak.
Relocating villages from tiger reserves raises livelihood and rights issues.
Many proposals are cleared with conditions, and enforcing mitigation measures is hard.
Roads and power lines fragment habitats and affect species in sensitive areas.

Way forward

Base clearances on scientific impact studies and enforce mitigation conditions with monitoring.
Protect ecological corridors and use traditional knowledge in conservation planning.
Use independent scientific assessment and publish reasons for decisions.
Plan voluntary, rights-respecting relocation and landscape-level management of conflict.
Monitor compliance with SC-NBWL directions and publish action taken reports.
Use digital platforms like PARIVESH for faster, transparent and science-based appraisal.

Put in your answer

Balancing development and wildlife: The Standing Committee appraised projects on ecological impact, public welfare and adequacy of mitigation, showing how clearance weighs both aims.

Example of balancing development and wildlife: A medium irrigation project in Madhya Pradesh's Bundelkhand region was considered for drinking and irrigation water and for more water for wildlife and gharials.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Issue already on file; 88th meeting clearing 70 proposals under Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972. Statutory bodies have only 7 Prelims questions.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change., 19 Jan, 14:15 IST · Release 282440

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Scheme

Research Development and Innovation (RDI) Scheme

GS3 Science and technology policyPrelims and Mains

Why in news: On 19 January 2026, Dr Jitendra Singh reviewed the RDI Fund and said funding for industry-backed projects will start by the end of January. DST has approved TDB and BIRAC as the first Second-Level Fund Managers.
What it is: The RDI Scheme funds private-sector research and innovation in sunrise and strategic areas, to help turn deep science into products. Money flows through a Rs 1 lakh crore fund (RDIF) to second-level fund managers such as the Technology Development Board. These managers lend or invest in eligible technology enterprises (ETEs).

Who runs it: RDIF is managed by an Independent Business Unit housed within ANRF, under the Department of Science and Technology.
Who gets the money: SLFMs channel capital to Eligible Technology Enterprises working at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above.
Launch: The Rs 1 lakh crore scheme was launched by the Prime Minister in November 2025.
Approval chain: Proposals went to the ANRF Executive Council and then to the EGoS for approval, after evaluation and an Expert Advisory Committee interaction.
Private matching: SLFMs are expected to mobilise private capital equal to the RDIF contribution.
Matching funds rule: TDB releases RDI money only against matching funds the ETE raises from non-government sources.
Call to reopen: The call is paused only for now and will reopen after all proposals received till 30 September are assessed.
Form of funding: The support is given as Optionally Convertible Debentures (OCD), a debt instrument that can convert to equity, not a grant.
Technology readiness target: The project aims to raise the technology from TRL-4 and above to TRL-8.
Priority area: The project fits the RDI Fund's priority area of advanced and reusable launch vehicles and propulsion innovation within Space Technologies.
Full-system reusability: The project moves beyond recovering only the first stage towards reusing the whole system, to cut costs and space debris.
Earlier Agnikul work: Agnikul developed the Agnilet engine, a single-piece 3D-printed rocket engine made in-house.
Form of support: The money is given as Optionally Convertible Debentures (OCD), not a grant.
SAR vs optical: SAR can operate regardless of daylight and can image through cloud cover. Optical imaging is affected by cloud and illumination.
Technology readiness: The funding is meant to take the technology from TRL-6 to TRL-9, that is, from a demonstrated prototype to a proven system in operation.
Intended uses: The satellite is meant for surveillance, human and vehicle detection and target classification, in varied weather and light.
Fund managers: TDB and BIRAC are the designated Second-Level Fund Managers. They issued calls on 4 and 13 February 2026.
Eligibility: Start-ups, companies and industry-led R&D projects developing technologies at TRL 4 and above in strategic and sunrise sectors can get funding.
Mode: The scheme works at national level through a competitive, proposal-based mechanism.
NM-ICPS: The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems has an outlay of Rs 3,660 crore and 25 Technology Innovation Hubs.
Fund size and period: BIRAC will deploy Rs 2,000 crore over up to five years, with scope for expansion.
Approval and launch: The RDI initiative was approved by the Union Cabinet in July 2025 and launched in November 2025 under ANRF, anchored by DST.
Technology readiness and instruments: The fund backs technologies from TRL-4 to TRL-9 through equity, convertible instruments and long-term debt.
Link to BioE3: The fund complements the BioE3 Policy and targets biopharma, bio-industrial manufacturing, bioenergy, blue economy and biocomputation.
Bioeconomy target: India's bioeconomy is put at 165.7 billion dollars in 2024, with targets of 300 billion dollars by 2030 and 1 trillion dollars by 2047.
Fund size: The RDI Fund is a Rs 1 lakh crore initiative to catalyse private sector-led research and innovation.
Roles of the first fund managers: TDB handles projects across all sunrise and strategic sectors. BIRAC oversees biotechnology and allied areas.
Initial allocation: TDB and BIRAC get Rs 2,000 crore each in the first quarter, so the initial allocation is Rs 4,000 crore.
Approval route: The Empowered Group of Secretaries approved the two managers on 12 January, in line with the decision of the ANRF Executive Council.

Don’t confuse with RDIF vs ANRF: ANRF is the statutory research body; RDIF is the Rs 1 lakh crore fund run by a business unit inside it.

Don’t confuse with SLFM vs ETE: SLFMs are intermediaries that receive RDIF money; ETEs are the firms that finally receive funding.

Don’t confuse with RDIF vs SLFM: RDIF is the main fund; second-level fund managers like TDB take money from it and pass it on to ETEs.

Don’t confuse with Allocation vs disbursement: Allocation is what the fund sets aside; disbursement depends on ETEs raising matching funds and sending demand notices.

Don’t confuse with RDI Fund vs TDB: The RDI Fund is the Rs 1 lakh crore pool. TDB is one of the second-level fund managers that deploys money from it to firms.

Don’t confuse with TRL-4 vs TRL-8: TRL is a 1-9 scale of technology maturity. TRL-4 is lab validation of components, while TRL-8 is a complete, qualified system.

Don’t confuse with SAR vs EO imaging: SAR is active microwave imaging that works at night and through cloud. EO imaging is usually passive, relies on sunlight and is blocked by cloud.

Don’t confuse with RDI Scheme vs NM-ICPS: RDI funds private-sector R&D via fund managers; NM-ICPS is a DST mission funding hubs in academic institutions.

Don’t confuse with TDB vs BIRAC: Both are RDI fund managers; BIRAC focuses on biotechnology, TDB on commercialising indigenous technology.

Don’t confuse with RDI Scheme vs ANRF: ANRF is the body under which the RDI initiative runs. The RDI Scheme is the funding programme for private-sector research.

Don’t confuse with BIRAC vs DBT: BIRAC is the industry-research support agency linked to the Department of Biotechnology. It is the fund manager here, not the department.

Don’t confuse with RDI Fund vs Fund of Funds for Startups: The RDI Fund finances technology enterprises in research and innovation through second-level managers. The Fund of Funds for Startups (SIDBI-run) invests in startups through venture funds.

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.

Why it matters

Provides long-term patient capital for high-risk private R&D, addressing a financing gap.
Supports technological sovereignty and reduces dependence on imported technology.
Gives long-tenor, low-cost finance to private deep-tech research, where risk keeps lenders away.
Strong response (about 330 proposals) shows demand for deep-science funding.
Gives long-term finance to private space firms for risky, capital-heavy technology that ordinary lenders avoid.
Reusable launchers can lower launch costs and space debris, strengthening India's position in the space economy.
Builds indigenous, all-weather, high-resolution Earth-observation capability for surveillance and civil use.
Shows the RDI Fund helping private firms through the late-stage gap between development and deployment.
Raises private R&D, which is low in India relative to GDP.
Supports strategic self-reliance in deep-tech, AI, biotech and energy transition.
Gives patient capital to long-gestation, high-risk biotech research that private lenders often avoid.
Helps move lab research to industrial-scale products and supports the BioE3 push.
Raises low private-sector R&D spending by sharing the risk of high-risk, long-gestation research.
Helps turn laboratory research into products by linking labs, startups and industry.

Problems

Private R&D spending in India is low, and investors may be wary of high-risk, long-gestation projects.
Matching private capital must be mobilised, and fund managers must be selected and monitored well.
Limited evaluation capacity: only about 150 projects assessed in seven months, causing a call closure.
Disbursal is slowed by the time ETEs need to raise matching funds.
Reusable launch technology is technically hard, especially controlled descent and restart, and carries high failure risk.
Debt-type support must be repaid or converted, which pressures start-ups with no early revenue.
Moving from TRL-6 to TRL-9 is costly and risky, and needs long testing and validation.
Commercial viability and demand for the data are uncertain.
Private firms may hesitate to take risk on long-gestation, uncertain research.
Capacity of fund managers to evaluate many proposals and track outcomes.
Risk of low private co-investment and slow deployment in high-risk deep-tech.
Biotech scale-up needs advanced infrastructure and regulatory clarity.
Private firms may be slow to take up high-risk research, and projects past TRL-4 may leave out early-stage research.
Guidelines have needed revision after stakeholder queries, which suggests clarity and speed are concerns.

Way forward

Onboard more fund managers and track outcomes such as products commercialised.
Link funding to industry-academia partnerships and clear transparency norms.
Add more fund managers and evaluation capacity, as DST/ANRF plans to assign more SLFMs.
Communicate call closures clearly to avoid misreading and keep investor confidence.
Tie disbursement to technical milestones and independent testing, with IN-SPACe and ISRO facilities support.
Track outcomes of RDI-funded projects publicly to judge whether they move technology from lab to market.
Link such funded projects to government demand, such as defence and agriculture users, to help commercialisation.
Track outcomes of RDI-funded projects so that later funding can be targeted better.
Use outcome-based monitoring and third-party evaluation of funded projects.
Link industry, academia and start-ups through ANRF missions and hubs.
Speed up approvals and align the fund with BioE3 biomanufacturing hubs.
Track outcomes by technology readiness level and publish deployment data.
Keep the process transparent and simple, and revise guidelines on feedback.
Track measurable outcomes for industry and society.

Put in your answer

RDI Fund example: TDB-DST's ₹63.84 crore OCD support to GalaxEye shows how the RDI Fund backs private strategic-technology projects.

RDI Scheme: Rs 1 lakh crore over six years to incentivise private R&D in strategic sectors.

NM-ICPS: Rs 3,660 crore mission with 25 hubs backing deep-tech start-ups.

Bioeconomy growth: India's bioeconomy rose from 28 billion dollars in 2012 to 165.7 billion dollars in 2024, according to BIRAC's MD.

BIRAC ecosystem: BIRAC reports more than 100 bio-incubation centres and over 10 lakh square feet of incubation space.

Test yourself

True or false?

1 of 12

Statements the way Prelims prints them. Say first, then see the fact.

1.The RDI Fund is managed by an Independent Business Unit housed within the Anusandhan National Research Foundation.
2.The first cohort of Second Level Fund Managers consists only of Alternative Investment Funds.
3.Second Level Fund Managers under the RDI Fund channel capital to enterprises working at Technology Readiness Level 4 and above.
4.Second Level Fund Managers are expected to mobilise private capital equal to the RDIF contribution.
5.Proposals from prospective fund managers are finally approved by the Executive Council of ANRF, with no further approval needed.
6.The RDI Scheme was launched in November 2025.
7.The RDI Scheme has a total outlay of Rs 1 lakh crore spread over six years.
8.The Technology Development Board and BIRAC are the Second-Level Fund Managers under the RDI Scheme.
9.The RDI Scheme funds only technologies at the earliest research stage, below TRL 4.
10.Under the RDI Scheme, funds are allocated to states on a state-specific quota basis.
11.The National Mission on Interdisciplinary Cyber-Physical Systems has established 25 Technology Innovation Hubs in academic institutions.
12.The Anusandhan National Research Foundation runs state-specific programmes for each state, including Jharkhand.

Written by us from the release, not by UPSC; checked by a second model.

Source: PIB, Ministry of Science & Technology, 19 Jan, 17:22 IST · Release 282447

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2028: most news questions come within two years of the event.

International relations

India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

GS2 International RelationsGS3 DefencePrelims and Mains

Why in news: UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan made an official visit to India on 19 January 2026. A joint statement set a target of US$ 200 billion in bilateral trade by 2032 and signed a Letter of Intent on a Strategic Defence Partnership.
What it is: The India-UAE Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is the framework for ties between the two countries across trade, investment, energy, defence, technology and people-to-people links. It is backed by the CEPA signed in 2022 and by regular dialogues such as the Joint Commission Meeting and the Strategic Dialogue. The UAE is among India's largest trade partners and a key source of energy and investment.

Defence: A Letter of Intent was signed towards a Strategic Defence Partnership. Defence and security cooperation is called a core pillar of the partnership.
Energy: HPCL and ADNOC Gas signed a 10-year LNG supply agreement for 0.5 million tonnes per year from 2028. The leaders also welcomed India's SHANTI law as opening civil nuclear cooperation.
Multilateral support: The UAE backed India's BRICS Chairmanship in 2026. India backed the 2026 UN Water Conference, co-hosted by the UAE.
IMEC: The leaders recalled the launch of the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor on the margins of the G20 summit in Delhi in September 2023.

Don’t confuse with CEPA vs BIT: CEPA (2022) covers trade in goods, services and related areas. The Bilateral Investment Treaty (2024) covers protection and flow of investment.

Don’t confuse with Strategic Dialogue vs Joint Commission: Both are standing India-UAE mechanisms. The 5th Strategic Dialogue and 16th Joint Commission Meeting were both held in December 2025.

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.

No practice question for this one; the card may still help an answer. Why: Joint statement with defence, space and investment outcomes. International topics are 19% of Prelims; few testable fixed facts here.

Source: PIB, Prime Minister's Office, 19 Jan, 20:10 IST · Release 282459

Issue page →

Worth revising until Prelims 2027: most news questions come within two years of the event.

Quick facts

ECI's India International Conference on Democracy and Election Management (IICDEM) 2026, organised by IIIDEM, is held at Bharat Mandapam, New Delhi, 21-23 January 2026.
A Centre of Excellence for Regulatory Affairs in the Power Sector was set up at IIT Delhi with CERC and Grid India.
C-DOT's Cell Broadcast Solution, a unified disaster alert platform linking IMD, CWC, INCOIS, DGRE and FSI with mobile operators, won the SKOCH Award 2025.
INS Sudarshini begins Lokayan 26 on 20 Jan 2026: a 10-month voyage to 18 ports in 13 countries, including SAIL 250 in New York.
The Responsible Nations Index, from the World Intellectual Foundation with JNU and IIM Mumbai, was launched in New Delhi.

Source: PIB, 19 Jan

What we left out: 28 of 37 releases

Speeches without a decision (3)
Ceremonies and campaigns (8)
Routine clarifications (1)
Routine data (2)
Visits and reviews (1)
Same issue as on file (2)
Visit schedules (1)
Routine port calls (1)
Same issue as another release (2)
Routine operations (1)
Visits and ceremonies (1)
Routine contracts (1)
Routine MoUs (1)
Consultation, nothing new (1)
Visits and conclaves (1)
Hosting announcements (1)

Practise the day’s news

In UPSC’s formats, inside each issue. The answer and why come after you choose.

1Research Development and Innovation (RDI) SchemeMCQ · 12 true or false · Mains

Keep reading

The day before

Sunday, 18 January 2026International Year of Cooperatives 2025

The day after

Tuesday, 20 January 2026One Station One Product (OSOP) · Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989 (Unpaid User Fee Amendment) · Jute and Jute Textiles Control Order, 2016

All days

Practice · 1