State PCS - Assam (APSC)

• 27 Jan 2026

Odisha Imposes Complete Ban on Gutka and Tobacco

Why in News? 

The Odisha government has imposed a complete statewide ban on gutkha and all food products containing tobacco or nicotine, covering their manufacture, storage, sale, transport and distribution. 

Key Points 

• Issuing Authority: Odisha Government through Food Safety and Health Department. 
• Legal Basis: The ban is enforced under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006. 
  • Implemented by Food Safety Officials, Police and Tobacco Control Authorities. 
• Exempted Products: Cigarettes and bidis excluded, as they are not classified as food products under the FSS Act. 
• Earlier Ban Reference: Odisha first banned gutka in 2013. 
• Public Health Objective: To reduce oral cancer, tobacco addiction and smokeless tobacco consumption, especially among youth and vulnerable groups. 
• Penalty Provisions: Violations include seizure of products, fines and cancellation of licences under applicable laws. 
• Significance: The move marks a comprehensive state-level action against smokeless tobacco, reinforcing preventive healthcare policy beyond central tobacco regulation frameworks. 

Read More:  Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006 

India’s First Private Satellite Manufacturing Facility in Gujarat

Why in News? 

India has marked a historic milestone in space manufacturing with the foundation of the country’s first private satellite and electro-optical payload manufacturing plant at Sanand, Gujarat. 

Key Points 

• Facility Name: Palmnaro Electro-Optical Payload Facility, India’s first integrated private satellite and payload manufacturing plant by Azista Space Systems. 
  • Location: The manufacturing facility is located at Khoraj Industrial Estate, Sanand, Gujarat. 
• MoUs: The project involves MoUs worth over ₹500 crore with the Government of Gujarat, reflecting strong public-private partnership. 
• Strategic Sector Entry: Marks the private sector’s entry into advanced satellite manufacturing, a domain earlier led by ISRO and PSUs. 
• Global Competitiveness: The facility will enable India to compete in the global commercial satellite market, including Earth observation and defence applications. 
  • The facility will produce advanced payloads also useful for civil sectors (like agriculture, environment, disaster management).  
• Objective: The plant aims to indigenise electro-optical payloads, reduce import dependence, and strengthen domestic space supply chains. 
  • Boosts private sector participation in space manufacturing and supports Atmanirbhar Bharat vision.  

Read More:  ISRO, Atmanirbhar Bharat 

ICAR and BISA Launch ACASA-India and Review 15 Years of NICRA

Why in News?

The Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and the Borlaug Institute for South Asia (BISA) jointly organized a high-level review workshop for the National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture (NICRA) and the formal launch of the Atlas of Climate Adaptation in Indian Agriculture (ACASA–India).

Key Points: 

• Launch of ACASA–India (Digital Climate Atlas): A web-enabled digital platform designed to provide location-specific, data-driven adaptation planning. 
  • Developer: Developed by the ICAR-led National Agricultural Research and Extension System (NARES) in collaboration with BISA–CIMMYT. 
  • Functionality: It maps climate risks and identifies adaptation options for 15 crops and six livestock species at high resolution. 
• 15-Year Review of NICRA:Launched in 2011, NICRA is India’s flagship program to enhance agricultural resilience to climate change through technology demonstration and research. 
  • Implementation: Currently active in over 200 locations across 151 climate-vulnerable districts. 
• Achievements: So far, 11 climate-resilient crop varieties have been developed, and carbon footprints of various crops have been assessed to support future carbon credit systems. 
• Strategic Shift: Officials noted that NICRA has reached a "critical juncture" and requires a roadmap aligned with Viksit Bharat 2047, shifting from individual farms to broader landscape-level interventions. 
• Significance:The workshop underscores the importance of science-led responses to climate challenges in agriculture, promotes resilience building, and aligns with India’s food security and sustainability goals.  
  • It also highlights the role of digital tools in strengthening farmer adaptation strategies in a changing climate. 

Read More: Indian Council of Agricultural Research,National Innovations in Climate Resilient Agriculture 

India Energy Week 2026 to Bring Global Energy Leadership Together in Goa

Why in News?

The 4th edition of India Energy Week (IEW) 2026, scheduled from 27–30 January 2026, will bring together global energy leaders, policymakers, industry stakeholders and investors in Goa to deliberate on energy security, sustainability and investment opportunities.

Key Points:

• Largest Energy Platform: Organised under the patronage of the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas, the event is expected to emerge as one of the world’s largest energy platforms. 
• Theme: "Energizing Growth, Securing Economies, and Enriching Lives." 
• Primary Objectives: The platform focuses on three critical pillars: Energy Security, Catalysing Investment, and Practical Decarbonisation Pathways. 
• Unique Position: Unlike many global forums, IEW 2026 deliberates on the entire energy spectrum, including fossil fuels, biofuels, hydrogen, and nuclear energy. 
• Exhibition:The exhibition features 11 zones, with new additions focusing on Nuclear Energy and Sustainable Aviation Fuel.  
• Innovation Zones:Initiatives like Avinya 2026 and the Hackathon Challenge 2026 encourage startup participation and innovation, while a Make in India pavilion promotes indigenization. 
• Significance:Encourages foreign direct investment and technology deployment in energy sectors. 
  • Supports India’s broader goals of energy security, clean energy transition and economic growth.

Humanoid Robot ‘ASC ARJUN’ Deployed at Visakhapatnam Railway Station

Why in News? 

Indian Railways has deployed a humanoid robot named ‘ASC ARJUN’ at Visakhapatnam Railway Station, Andhra Pradesh. 

Key Points 

• First-of-Its-Kind Initiative: This marks the first deployment of a humanoid robot on the Indian Railways network as part of innovation-led passenger service enhancement. 
• Indigenous Technology: ASC ARJUN has been developed by Railway Protection Force (RPF), Visakhapatnam, using indigenous technology. 
• Role and Function: Assists RPF personnel in station operations, especially during peak passenger hours. 
  • Security and Surveillance Features: It is equipped with a Face Recognition System (FRS) for intrusion detection, AI-based crowd monitoring, and connects in real time to RPF control rooms.  
  • Passenger Assistance: The robot can make automated public announcements in English, Hindi and Telugu. 
• Autonomous Patrols: ASC ARJUN has semi-autonomous navigation with obstacle avoidance capabilities. 
  • Enabling 24×7 platform patrolling and optimized manpower use. 
  • Emergency Response Systems: It includes fire and smoke detection systems to aid timely response in case of emergencies. 
• Interactive Design: The robot interacts with passengers using friendly gestures, such as “Namaste,” and provides real-time information and assistance.  
• Significance: It signifies Indian Railways’ focus on technology adoption for safer, secure, and more passenger-friendly stations.  

Read More: Face Recognition System (FRS), AI, 

Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026

Why in News?

The Government of India has selected the Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) in the Institutional Category and Lt Col. Seeta Ashok Shelke in the Individual Category for the Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar 2026.

Key Points:

• Subhash Chandra Bose Aapda Prabandhan Puraskar: To honor Indian nationals and institutions that have demonstrated exceptional courage and dedication in disaster management (Prevention, Mitigation, Preparation, Rescue, and Rehabilitation). 
• Announcement: Every year on January 23 (Parakram Diwas). 
• Prize Money: 
  • Institutional: A certificate and ₹51 Lakh (the money must be used by the institution for disaster management activities). 
  • Individual: A certificate and ₹5 Lakh. 
• Nodal Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). 
• Institutional Category: Sikkim State Disaster Management Authority (SSDMA) has been recognized for its pioneering work in the Himalayan ecosystem, focusing on community-centered disaster resilience. 
• Key Achievement (Aapda Mitra): The authority has successfully trained and deployed 1,185 Aapda Mitras (community volunteers) across all Gram Panchayats.  
  • These volunteers act as first responders during landslides and floods, common in the high-altitude terrain. 
• Operational Success: The SSDMA was instrumental in managing the 2023 Teesta Flash Floods and the 2016 Mantam Landslide, using real-time coordination to rescue over 2,500 people and minimize loss of life in difficult geographical conditions. 
• Individual Category: Lieutenant Colonel Seeta Ashok Shelke gained national acclaim for her leadership during the 2024 Wayanad (Kerala) Landslides.  
  • Under her command, the Army's engineering wing constructed a 190-foot-long Bailey Bridge at Chooralmala in record time under heavy rain and unstable terrain. 
• Significance:The dual recognition at the national level highlights the importance of institutional preparedness and individual heroism in effective disaster management. 

Read More: Parakram Diwas, Subhash Chandra Bose