State PCS - JAMMU & KASHMIR (JKAS)

• 17 Jan 2026

Gujarat launched ‘Poshan Udaan 2026

Why in News? 

Gujarat has launched ‘Poshan Udaan 2026’ during the Makar Sankranti festival to spread nutrition and health awareness across the state by leveraging traditional festivities and community engagement. 

Key Points 

• Initiative: Poshan Udaan 2026 uses the popularity of the kite festival with kites carrying nutrition and health messages to symbolically raise public awareness across the state. 
  • To highlight the importance of balanced diets and health for children, adolescent girls and mothers. 
• Integration: Conducted under ICDS (Integrated Child Development Services) at Anganwadi centres. 
• Implemented by: A statewide nutrition awareness campaign organised by the Department of Women and Child Development, Gujarat. 
• Focus: The initiative emphasises dietary diversity, reduced junk food consumption, safe drinking water, and sanitation practices to improve nutrition outcomes. 
• Target groups involved: Outreach includes schoolchildren, adolescent girls, pregnant and lactating women, and local community leaders. 
• Health interventions: Activities such as haemoglobin testing, IFA( Iron and Folic Acid) tablet distribution, BMI (Body Mass Index) check-ups and personalised nutrition counselling were conducted for mothers and children. 

Read More: Makar Sankranti festival, Poshan Abhiyan,  ICDS, BMI 

Tamil Nadu to Establish India’s First ‘Sovereign AI Park’

Why in News? 

On 13th January, 2026, the Government of Tamil Nadu signed a landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Sarvam AI to establish India’s first Sovereign AI Park in Chennai.

Key Points 

• Full-Stack Infrastructure: The park will host the entire AI lifecycle, including specialized Graphics Processing Unit (GPU)-based data centers, indigenous Large Language Models (LLMs), and application-layer tools. 
• Indic-Centric AI: A primary focus of the facility is the development of Indic LLMs (specifically Tamil-language models) to bridge the digital divide for non-English speaking populations. 
• Data Sovereignty: By hosting data and compute power within the state, the project ensures that sensitive citizen and government information remains under local jurisdiction, protected from foreign surveillance or cross-border legal complexities. 
• Strategic Collaboration: The park will be managed in coordination with the Tamil Nadu e-Governance Agency (TNeGA) to integrate AI into public service delivery. 
• ‘Sovereign AI’:Sovereign AI refers to a nation's or state's capability to build AI using its own infrastructure, data, and human capital. 
  • Strategic Autonomy: It is considered essential for national security and economic resilience, preventing "Digital Colonialism." 
• Significance: This initiative marks a strategic step toward achieving Digital Autonomy and making Tamil Nadu a global hub for high-end Artificial Intelligence. 
  • The project aligns with the Central Government’s IndiaAI Mission to democratize AI compute access.

Read More: IndiaAI Mission, Strategic Autonomy, Large Language Models 

India Post Delivers First-Ever ONDC Order as Logistics Provider

Why in News? 

The Department of Posts (India Post) achieved a major milestone by successfully delivering its first-ever online order as a logistics service provider for the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC).

Key Points:

• Transaction: The inaugural order featured a shipment of Walnuts sourced from a local seller in Srinagar, Jammu & Kashmir, delivered to a consumer in New Delhi. 
• Role of India Post: Moving beyond traditional mail, India Post acted as the core Logistics Service Provider, managing the entire value chain—from first-mile pickup in a remote location to last-mile delivery in a metro city. 
• Integration: The delivery was made possible through the seamless integration of India Post's internal logistics software with the ONDC open protocol, allowing real-time tracking and automated dispatch.  
• Logistics Empowerment: By onboarding India Post, ONDC gains access to over 1.6 lakh Post Offices, ensuring that even the most remote rural sellers can reach a national market. 
• Level Playing Field: Small-scale artisans and MSMEs can now access high-quality logistics at competitive rates, previously a major barrier to entering the digital economy.  
• Vocal for Local: This integration provides a massive boost to the One District One Product (ODOP) initiative by providing a reliable supply chain for regional specialties. 
• Financial Inclusion: It encourages rural entrepreneurs to adopt digital payments and formalize their businesses, contributing to the goal of a Viksit Bharat @2047. 

Read More:MSME, One District One Product,Open Network for Digital Commerce 

IOA launches National Olympic Education and Development Programme

Why in News? 

The Indian Olympic Association (IOA) formally launched the National Olympic Education and Development Programme (NOEDP) to strengthen India's entire Olympic ecosystem from the grassroots to the elite levels 

Key Points: 

• Integrated Framework: The NOEDP is designed as a comprehensive national framework to deliver structured education initiatives across the entire sports ecosystem, in collaboration with National Sports Federations (NSFs) and State Olympic Associations (SOAs). 
• Reactivation of the National Olympic Academy (NOA): A cornerstone of this program is the formal reactivation of the National Olympic Academy (NOA) in Ahmedabad. The NOA will serve as the central hub for Olympic education, learning, research, and dialogue in India. 
• Leadership: IOA President and sprint legend P.T. Usha was ratified as the President of the NOA, while Olympic medallist and IOA Vice President Gagan Narang was appointed as its Director. 
• International Alignment: The NOA will collaborate with the International Olympic Academy in Olympia to ensure India's programs meet global standards and adhere to the Olympic Charter. 
• Significance: The initiatives reflect a renewed focus on placing athletes at the heart of the Olympic movement, providing them with leadership skills and educational support throughout their careers.