State PCS - Karnataka (KPSC)

• 14 Jan 2026

Kerala Renames Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary as Butterfly Sanctuary

Why in News? 

The Kerala government has officially renamed the Aralam Wildlife Sanctuary in Kannur district as the Aralam Butterfly Sanctuary. 

Key Points 

• Notification: The renaming was officially notified under the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972. 
• Reason: Due to the presence of  rich abundance and diversity of butterfly species in the region and the need to protect and propagate their natural habitat. 
  • Butterfly Diversity: Aralam hosts about 266 butterfly species, representing over 80% of Kerala’s total butterfly diversity. 
  • Endemic Species: 27 species in Aralam are endemic to the Western Ghats. 
• WP Act Protection: Six butterfly species recorded at Aralam are listed in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 
• Historical Status: The Aralam area was originally declared as a wildlife sanctuary in 1984. 
• Global Significance: The sanctuary holds global ecological importance, as part of the Western Ghats, which is recognised as a World Natural Heritage site by UNESCO. 
• Social and Environmental Impact: The renamed sanctuary is expected to strengthen biodiversity conservation, promote environmental education, ecotourism, and generate community engagement in protecting butterfly populations.

Read More:  Wildlife (Protection) Act,  IUCN Red List, UNESCO 

PFRDA NPS Outreach for MSMEs at Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference 2026

Why in News? 

Recently, the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) conducted a specialized NPS outreach session for the MSME sector during the Vibrant Gujarat Regional Conference held in Rajkot, Gujarat.

Key Points: 

• Objective: To expand the social security net by encouraging MSME owners and their employees to adopt the National Pension System (NPS). 
• Focus on Corporate Model: PFRDA highlighted the "NPS Corporate Sector Model," which allows MSMEs to provide a structured retirement benefit to employees with minimal administrative overhead. 
• Financial Literacy: The session aimed to bridge the gap in pension coverage for the unorganized and semi-organized segments of the workforce in Gujarat's industrial hubs. 
• Dignified Aging: MSMEs are a critical part of India’s economy, and encouraging retirement savings culture among business owners and workers can help reduce future financial insecurity and ensure dignified aging. 
• MSME Contribution: The MSME sector contributes nearly 30% to India’s GDP and is a critical target for achieving "Pensioned India" goals. 
• PFRDA: A statutory regulatory body established under the PFRDA Act, 2013, to promote and regulate the pension sector in India. 
• NPS Structure: It is a voluntary, defined contribution retirement savings scheme. It is regulated on the basis of PRAN (Permanent Retirement Account Number). 

Read more: MSME, PFRDA,NPS 

Justice Indira Shah Appointed as First Female Chief Justice of Meghalaya High Court

Why in News? 

Justice Indira Shah made history by being sworn in as the first female Chief Justice of the Meghalaya High Court, marking a significant milestone for gender representation in the North Eastern judiciary.

Key Points: 

• Appointment: The appointment was made by the President of India under Article 217 of the Constitution, following the recommendation of the Supreme Court Collegium. 
• Significance: While India has seen several female judges in the North East, this is the first time a woman has headed the Meghalaya High Court. 
• Meghalaya High Court: Established on March 23, 2013, after an amendment to the North-Eastern Areas (Reorganisation) Act, 1971. 
• Appointment Process: The Chief Justice of a High Court is appointed by the President after consultation with the Chief Justice of India (CJI) and the Governor of the state. 
• Gender Parity: In 2026, India continues to push for higher representation of women in the higher judiciary, where women currently constitute less than 15% of the total judge strength.

Read more: President of India ,CJI,Article217 

VP Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan Inaugurates 'Drug-Free Campus' Campaign

Why in News? 

Vice-President Shri C. P. Radhakrishnan inaugurated the "Drug-Free Campus Campaign" at the University of Delhi (DU) on January 11, 2026.

Key Points: 

• Vision: The campaign is part of the broader Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan (NMBA), targeting educational institutions to prevent substance abuse among the youth. 
• Strategy: It involves the creation of student-led "Anti-Drug Clubs" and the integration of counseling services within the university health system. 
• The VP’s Address: He emphasized that a Viksit Bharat @2047 is only possible if the youth are healthy, disciplined, and free from addiction. 
• Platforms Launched: A dedicated e-pledge platform and mobile application under the campaign to encourage students across the country to take a pledge for drug-free campuses. 
• Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan: Launched by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, it focuses on the 272 most vulnerable districts in India. 
• Article 47: The Constitution of India (Directive Principles of State Policy) directs the State to endeavor to bring about prohibition of the consumption of intoxicating drinks and drugs. 
• NCB Role: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) provides technical support to these campus campaigns to track and dismantle local supply chains near educational zones. 

MoEFCC Launches 'NIRANTAR' Platform for Institutional Coordination

Why in News? 

The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) chaired a high-level meeting in January 2026 to operationalize the NIRANTAR Platform.

Key Points: 

• NIRANTAR Dashboard: It is a digital unified dashboard designed to strengthen coordination among MoEFCC institutions like the Pollution Control Boards (CPCB/SPCBs), Forest Survey of India (FSI), and Zoological Survey of India (ZSI). 
• Real-time Monitoring: The platform enables the real-time tracking of environmental clearances, forest fire alerts, and wildlife trafficking data. 
• Data Integration: It aims to eliminate "silo-based" functioning, ensuring that climate data from various research bodies is accessible for policy-making under one window. 
• MoEFCC: The nodal agency in the Central Government for overseeing environmental and forestry policies. 
• Digital India in Environment: NIRANTAR follows earlier initiatives like PARIVESH (for environment clearances), but offers a broader scope for inter-agency collaboration. 
• Sustainable Development: The platform is a tool to meet SDG 13 (Climate Action) and SDG 15 (Life on Land) by ensuring data-driven conservation. 

Read more: CPCB, SDG, MoEFCC