• 23 Jan 2026

Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary Declared Eco-Sensitive Zone

Why in News? 

The Central Government has notified the area around Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary in Rajasthan as an Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ). 

Key Points 

• Notifying Authority: Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) 
• Location: Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary is located in the Aravalli mountain range of Rajasthan. 
  • Districts Covered: Udaipur, Pali, Rajsamand 
• Eco-Sensitive Zone Coverage: The notified ESZ extends from 0 to 1 km from the boundary of the sanctuary. 
  • Covering an area of about 243 sq km and including around 94 villages. 
• Objective of ESZ: To act as a buffer zone between the protected forest and surrounding human habitation, ensuring biodiversity conservation, habitat protection, and ecological balance. 
• Restricted Activities: Activities such as commercial mining, polluting industries, brick kilns, and new large-scale construction (resorts/hotels) are prohibited or strictly regulated within the ESZ. 
  • Agriculture, horticulture, rainwater harvesting, and eco-friendly tourism may be allowed under strict environmental norms. 
• Ecological Significance: The sanctuary supports wildlife like leopard, striped hyena, jungle cat, Indian pangolin, nilgai, and chinkara, making it ecologically crucial. 
• Administrative Authority: The notification has been issued under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).

Read More:  Eco-Sensitive Zone (ESZ), Aravalli mountain, Environment (Protection) Act, 1986 

DGCA Launches Electronic Personnel Licence Services for ATPL

Why in News? 

The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has launched Electronic Personnel Licence (EPL) services for the Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL) in January 2026. 

Key Points 

• Digital Licence: The Electronic Personnel Licence (EPL) is a secure digital licence that incorporates International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)‑aligned security features. 
  • To ensure authenticity, tamper‑proofing, and real‑time online verification for pilot licences. 
• Access Platform: Pilots and stakeholders can access and manage the licence through the Electronic DGCA (eGCA) mobile application, enhancing convenience and transparency. 
• Previous Roll‑out: DGCA had earlier rolled out EPL services for Commercial Pilot Licence (CPL) and Flight Radio Telephone Operator’s (Restricted) Licence (FRTOL) in February 2025.  
• Regulatory Impact: The initiative is a major step in strengthening India’s civil aviation regulatory framework through secure, modern, and future‑ready digital systems.  
• Relevance: The EPL initiative aligns with Digital India and Ease of Doing Business goals by reducing reliance on physical documents and improving service delivery in the aviation sector.

Read More: DGCA, ICAO,  Digital India,  Ease of Doing Business 

Punjab’s First Dog Sanctuary in Ludhiana

Why in News? 

Punjab has inaugurated its first-ever dog sanctuary in Ludhiana as a pilot initiative to address the growing stray dog problem in a humane and systematic manner. 

Key Points 

• Location: The dog sanctuary has been set up at the Haibowal Dairy Complex in Ludhiana city, Punjab. 
  • Capacity: The facility has the capacity to accommodate around 500 stray dogs. 
• Implementation Authority: The project is being implemented by the Ludhiana Municipal Corporation. 
• Background: Ludhiana has reported a high number of dog bite cases, highlighting the need for a structured and humane solution. 
• Objective: To provide shelter, medical treatment, and care to stray dogs. 
  • Helps in reducing dog bite incidents in urban areas. 
  • Key Feature: Identification and relocation of aggressive or sick dogs. 
• Policy Framework: The initiative follows Supreme Court guidelines related to stray dog management and animal welfare.

Read More: Municipal Corporation, Supreme Court

 

Lucknow Becomes Uttar Pradesh’s First Zero Fresh Waste Dump City

Why in News? 

Lucknow has been recognised as the First Zero Fresh Waste Dump City in Uttar Pradesh under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban. 

Key Points 

• Achievement: Lucknow has been recognised as the first city in Uttar Pradesh to achieve 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste, eliminating the need for fresh waste dumping. 
• City Waste Capacity: Lucknow can now manage about 2,100 MT/day of municipal solid waste through scientific processing. 
  • New Facility: The Shivari Solid Waste Management Plant has been commissioned with a capacity to process 700 metric tonnes per day (MT/day) of waste. 
• Waste Processing Practices:Waste is segregated into organic (≈55%) and inorganic (≈45%) fractions. 
  • Organic Waste: Processed into compost and biogas. 
  • Inorganic Waste: Sorted for recycling or converted into Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) for use in industries such as cement and paper. 
• Future Plans: Lucknow Municipal Corporation plans a 15 MW Waste-to-Energy (WtE) plant using RDF to generate power locally, reducing transport costs and carbon emissions.

Read More: Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban, Solid Waste Management, Waste-to-Energy 

Western Region State Water Secretaries Conference in Pune

Why in News? 

The Western Region State Water Secretaries Conference was held in Pune, Maharashtra, in January 2026. 

Key Points 

• Organising Ministry: Ministry of Jal Shakti, Department of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation (DoWR, RD & GR). 
• Objective: Strengthen synergistic partnerships between the Central and Western Region States. 
  • For effective planning, implementation, and monitoring of water sector projects. 
• Focus Areas: Implementation of central sector water schemes 
  • Efficient water resource management and interstate cooperation. 
  • Promotion of sustainable irrigation projects and drinking water initiatives. 
  • Sharing best practices in water conservation, watershed management, and river basin development. 
• Significance: Strengthens Centre–State coordination in the water sector. 
  • Aims to accelerate National Jal Jeevan Mission targets and integrated water management. 
  • Encourages knowledge exchange and adoption of innovative technologies in water resource management.

Read More: Centre–State coordination,  National Jal Jeevan Mission 

Union Home Minister Amit Shah to Address ‘Uttar Pradesh Day’ on 24th January

Why in News? 

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation, Shri Amit Shah, will address the ‘Uttar Pradesh Day’ (Uttar Pradesh Diwas) celebrations as the Chief Guest in Lucknow on 24 January. 

Key Points: 

• Launch of 'One District One Cuisine' (ODOC) Scheme: Inspired by the successful ODOP model, this new initiative aims to identify, brand, and provide market access to the traditional and signature dishes of each district in UP, elevating local flavors to national and global recognition. 
• Sardar Patel Industrial Zone Programme: The Home Minister will inaugurate this programme to boost the state's industrial infrastructure. 
• Awards and Honors:Presentation of awards to top-performing districts under the M YUVA (Mukhyamantri Yuva Udyami Vikas Yojana) scheme. 
  • Conferring the Uttar Pradesh Gaurav Samman 2025–26 to eminent personalities for their exceptional contributions. 
• Significance of January 24: On this day in 1950, the United Provinces was renamed as Uttar Pradesh. 
• Official Recognition: Although the state was formed in 1950, the first official celebration of 'UP Diwas' was initiated by the state government in 2018. 
• Objective: To celebrate the state's rich culture, crafts, and heritage while showcasing its development journey and future potential. 
• Theme for 2026: The celebrations are being held under the theme ‘Viksit Bharat, Viksit Uttar Pradesh’. 

Read More: MYUVA scheme,ODOP 

Amelia Valverde Appointed Head Coach of Indian Women’s Football Team

Why in News? 

The All India Football Federation (AIFF) has officially appointed Amelia Valverde as the head coach of the Indian Senior Women’s National Team. 

Key Points: 

• Profile of Amelia Valverde: A highly experienced Costa Rican coach, Valverde is best known for her long tenure with the Costa Rica Women’s National Team, where she served as head coach from 2015 to 2023. 
• Historical Achievements: She successfully led Costa Rica to the FIFA Women's World Cup in 2015 and 2023. 
• Vision 2047 Alignment: The appointment aligns with AIFF’s 'Vision 2047' roadmap, which seeks to make India a major footballing power in Asia and eventually qualify for the FIFA World Cup. 
• Focus on Infrastructure: Beyond coaching, Valverde is expected to contribute to the structural development of the women's game, including the Indian Women’s League (IWL). 
• Global Recognition: Bringing in a coach with World Cup experience signals India's intent to become a competitive force in the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) region. 
• Sports Governance in India: The role of national federations (AIFF) in leveraging foreign expertise to build indigenous talent pools and sustainable sporting ecosystems.

Read More: All India Football Federation 

India's First Tailings Policy for Critical Minerals

Why in News? 

The Government of India has announced the country’s first-ever Tailings Policy, aimed at enabling the recovery of critical and strategic minerals from mine waste such as tailings, mine dumps, slags, and overburden.

Key Points:

• Definition of Tailings: Tailings are the residual waste materials (crushed rock, water, and chemicals) left over after valuable minerals have been extracted from ore. 
• Secondary Source Recovery: The policy shifts the focus toward extracting "companion minerals" from existing mine dumps, slag, fly ash, and tailings ponds. 
• Inter-Ministerial Coordination: Since critical minerals are often found in materials handled by different sectors, the policy mandates a coordinated approach involving the ministries of Coal, Mines, Petroleum, and Atomic Energy. 
• Technical Implementation: Agencies such as the Geological Survey of India (GSI), Indian Bureau of Mines (IBM), and Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) will lead the identification, sampling, and economic evaluation of these secondary resources. 
• Circular Economy: By reprocessing waste, the policy promotes a circular mining economy, reducing the need for new mines and minimizing environmental hazards like land degradation and water contamination.  
• Reducing Import Dependence: India relies heavily on imports for minerals like Lithium, Cobalt, and Rare Earth Elements (REEs). Reprocessing tailings will strengthen domestic supply chains for electric vehicles (EVs) and clean energy. 
• Economic Value: Recovering companion metals (e.g., Selenium and Cobalt from copper tailings, or Indium from zinc waste) can unlock billions of dollars in "hidden" mineral value. 
• Alignment with National Goals: It supports the National Critical Mineral Mission and Atmanirbhar Bharat by ensuring long-term resource security. 

Read More: National Critical Mineral Mission, Atmanirbhar Bharat