27 january 2026 - Daily Current Affairs Updates

GS–1 | MODERN INDIAN HISTORY

1. Ras Behari Bose

Subtopic: Revolutionary Nationalism, Overseas Freedom Movement

Value Addition:

• Birth: 25 May 1886, Subaldaha village, present-day Purba Bardhaman, West Bengal.

• Early Career: Worked at the Forest Research Institute, Dehradun, while actively participating in underground revolutionary networks.

• Ideological Influence:

  • Strongly inspired by the French Revolution (1789) ideals of liberty and republicanism.

  • Exposure during studies at Dupleix College, Chandernagore (French territory).

• Key Revolutionary Activities in India:

  • Alipore Bomb Case (1908): Escaped Bengal to evade arrest.

  • Delhi–Lahore Conspiracy Case (1912): Mastermind behind the bomb attack on Viceroy Lord Hardinge.

  • Ghadar Mutiny (1915): Principal organiser aiming to trigger mutiny within Indian armed forces during World War I.

• Exile in Japan:

  • Reached Japan in 1915 under the alias Priyanath Thakur, evading British intelligence.

  • Organised overseas Indians through the Indian Independence League (Tokyo and Bangkok conferences).

• Azad Hind Fauj:

  • Instrumental in organising the Indian National Army (INA) in 1942.

  • In 1943, transferred leadership to Subhas Chandra Bose, acknowledging his leadership potential.

• Honours:

  • Awarded Order of the Rising Sun (Second Class) by Japan.

  • Commemorative postage stamp issued by India in 1967.

• Death: 21 January 1945 (tuberculosis).

Subject Analysis:

• High-value GS-1 topic highlighting revolutionary nationalism beyond India’s borders.

• Useful for mains on international dimensions of India’s freedom struggle.

GS–1 | INDIAN GEOGRAPHY

2. Souparnika River (Karnataka)

Subtopic: West-Flowing Rivers, Cultural Geography

Value Addition:

• Type: West-flowing river draining into the Arabian Sea.

• Origin: Kodachadri Hills, Western Ghats.

• Course:

  • Flows through Byndoor taluk.

  • Passes near Mookambika Temple, Kollur, a major pilgrimage centre.

• Ecological Setting:

  • Traverses dense forests of the Western Ghats biodiversity hotspot.

• Mythological Significance:

  • Linked to Garuda, the divine bird of Lord Vishnu.

  • Name derived from Suparna (Garuda).

• Unique Geographical Feature:

  • At Maravanthe Beach, river flows parallel to the Arabian Sea, separated by a narrow land strip.

  • Creates a rare river–sea juxtaposition, important for coastal geomorphology and tourism.

• Current Issue:

  • NGT directive to prevent wastewater discharge, highlighting river pollution concerns.

Subject Analysis:

• Important GS-1 topic combining physical geography, cultural ecology, and environmental governance.

GS–1 | ART & CULTURE / HERITAGE

3. Granth Kutir (Rashtrapati Bhavan)

Subtopic: Manuscript Heritage, Classical Languages

Value Addition:

• Inaugurated By: President Droupadi Murmu.

• Nature: Curated cultural knowledge space at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

• Languages Covered (11):

  • Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Telugu, Malayalam, Odia, Marathi, Pali, Prakrit, Assamese, Bengali.

• Collection:

  • ~2,300 books and manuscripts.

  • Themes include philosophy, epics, linguistics, governance, science, devotional literature.

  • Includes the Constitution of India translated into classical languages.

• Objective:

  • Enhance public awareness of India’s civilisational and intellectual traditions.

• Institutional Collaboration:

  • Built with support from central and state governments, universities, research institutions, and cultural bodies.

• Mission Linkage:

  • Supports Gyan Bharatam Mission under the Ministry of Culture.

  • Focus on survey, conservation, and digitisation of manuscript heritage.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-1 topic linking cultural preservation, language policy, and knowledge systems.

GS–2 | DEMOCRACY & ELECTORAL GOVERNANCE

4. National Voters’ Day

Subtopic: Democratic Participation, Electoral Awareness

Value Addition:

• Observed On: 25 January every year.

• Since: 2011, marking the foundation day of the Election Commission of India (1950).

• Objective:

  • Encourage informed and ethical participation in elections.

  • Promote enrolment of first-time voters, especially youth.

• Theme (2026): “My India, My Vote”.

• Tagline: Citizen at the Heart of Indian Democracy.

• Scale of Observance:

  • Celebrated at national, state, district, constituency, and booth levels.

Subject Analysis:

• High-utility GS-2 topic on democratic deepening and civic engagement.

GS–3 | BIODIVERSITY & WILDLIFE

5. Saltwater Crocodile (Crocodylus porosus)

Subtopic: Apex Predators, Coastal Ecosystems

Value Addition:

• Largest living reptile globally.

• Alternate Names: Estuarine crocodile, Indo-Pacific crocodile.

• Habitat:

  • Coastal areas, estuaries, rivers, mangroves, brackish wetlands.

• Global Distribution:

  • India’s east coast, Southeast Asia, northern Australia, Micronesia.

• Indian Range:

  • Odisha, West Bengal, Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

  • Odisha hosts the largest natural population in India.

• Behaviour:

  • Solitary and highly territorial, especially adult males.

• Diet: Opportunistic hypercarnivorous apex predator.

• IUCN Status: Least Concern.

• Recent Development:

  • Drone-based survey shows population increase in Odisha.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 topic linking wildlife conservation, technology use, and coastal ecology.

GS–3 | GLOBAL GOVERNANCE & INDICES

6. Responsible Nations Index

Subtopic: Ethical Governance, Global Responsibility

Value Addition:

• Launched In: New Delhi, at Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.

• Developed By: World Intellectual Foundation with JNU, IIM Mumbai, and Dr. Ambedkar International Centre.

• Coverage: 154 countries.

• Approach:

  • Moves beyond GDP or power-based rankings.

  • Uses transparent, globally sourced datasets.

• Core Dimensions:

  • Internal Responsibility: Dignity, justice, citizen well-being.

  • Environmental Responsibility: Climate action and resource stewardship.

  • External Responsibility: Peace, cooperation, global stability.

• Significance:

  • Promotes ethical leadership and value-based global governance.

Subject Analysis:

• Useful GS-3 topic for alternative development metrics and ethical international relations.

GS–3 | BIODIVERSITY / SCIENCE

7. Darwin’s Bark Spider (Caerostris darwini)

Subtopic: Unique Species, Biomaterials

Value Addition:

• Habitat: Riverine forests and wetlands of Madagascar.

• Key Feature: Produces the strongest and toughest spider silk known.

• Web Characteristics:

  • Orb webs spanning up to 25 metres across rivers.

  • Built over open water, unlike typical orb-weavers.

• Silk Property:

  • Tougher than steel and synthetic fibres of similar thickness.

• Ecological Role:

  • Regulates insect populations in riverine ecosystems.

Subject Analysis:

• GS-3 topic linking biodiversity with material science and evolutionary adaptation.

GS–3 | PROTECTED AREAS

8. Kumbhalgarh Wildlife Sanctuary (Rajasthan)

Subtopic: Aravalli Ecology, Eco-Sensitive Zones

Value Addition:

• Notified: 1971; named after Kumbhalgarh Fort.

• Area: ~610.5 sq km.

• Location: Rajsamand district, Aravalli ranges.

• Physiography:

  • Eastern hills (500–1,300 m).

  • Western transition into Marwar plains.

• Drainage:

  • Eastern slopes → Banas River (Bay of Bengal basin).

  • Western slopes → tributaries of Luni River (Arabian Sea basin).

• Flora: Churel, Dhok, Khair, Salar.

• Fauna: Leopard, wolf, sloth bear, hyena, sambhar, nilgai, chinkara, chausingha.

• Recent Update:

  • 0–1 km Eco-Sensitive Zone notified.

Subject Analysis:

• High-yield GS-3 topic on protected areas, watershed divide, and conservation policy.