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Current Affairs 08 January 2026

PRAGATI

  • About: Multi-purpose and multi-modal platform offering comprehensive, technology-enabled governance mechanism spanning all tiers of government. 
  • Team India Spirit: PRAGATI review meetings are Chaired by Prime Minister having direct engagement with state and central ministries. 
  • Hosts Key Governance Tools: Like  PM Gati Shakti, PARIVESH and PM Reference Portal. 
  • Global Recognition: An external study by Oxford University’s Saïd Business School, termed PRAGATI a global benchmark and a “single source of truth” for real-time project monitoring. 

Mpemba effect

  • It is a long-existing paradox suggesting that hotter substances can freeze faster than colder substances under certain conditions. 
  • Most famously, observed with water,  but the effect is not limited to water and shows up in other materials and physical systems, too.
  • Significance: Heat engines and refrigeration systems, Quantum computing, Materials science etc.

Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS)

  • BIS is India’s National Standards Body and works under the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. 
  • Mandate: Established under the BIS Act, 2016, it formulates Indian Standards to ensure quality, safety, reliability, and efficiency of goods and services.
  • Function: BIS operates product certification, hallmarking of gold and silver, compulsory registration schemes, etc. 

Doomsday glacier

  • The Thwaites Glacier, commonly known as the ‘Doomsday Glacier’.
  • It is called so because its potential to significantly add to worldwide sea levels, is one of the fastest changing ice-ocean systems on the planet. 
  • The complete melting of the glacier could add 65 cm to global sea levels.

Laws Against Acid Attacks in India? 

  • Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023: Acid attacks are now treated as a specific and serious offence under Section 124 of BNS, prescribing a minimum punishment of ten years’ imprisonment, extendable to life, along with a just and reasonable fine to meet the victim’s medical expenses.  
  • The law also penalises attempted acid attacks with five to seven years’ imprisonment and mandates that all public and private hospitals provide free first aid and medical treatment to victims, with denial attracting criminal liability. 
  • NALSA (Legal Services to Victims of Acid Attacks), Scheme, 2016: Under the Legal Services Authorities Act, 1987, the National Legal Services Authority (NALSA), through the NALSA (Legal Services to Victims of Acid Attacks) Scheme, 2016, provides priority legal aid, support, and assistance to acid attack victims and their heirs. 
  • Model Poisons Possession and Sale Rules, 2013: The 2013 Supreme Court (SC) of India order mandated strict regulation of the sale and availability of acid, requiring buyers to produce a photo identity proof and sellers to maintain detailed purchase registers.  
  • Pursuant to this order, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an advisory to all States and framed the Model Poisons Possession and Sale Rules, 2013 under the Poisons Act, 1919, directing States to formulate their own rules since the subject falls within the State domain.  
  • However, despite these directions and model rules, implementation remains weak and uneven across most States, allowing easy access to acid to persist. 

Key Achievements of the Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs in the Year 2025? 

  • High Legislative Output: Facilitated the passage of 39 Bills by both Houses, including major reforms like the Income-tax Bill, 2025 (to simplify the tax code), the VB-G-Ram-G Bill, 2025 (for rural employment), and the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025. 
  • Substantive Parliamentary Discourse: Organized and facilitated high-level debates beyond legislation, including discussions on Operation Sindoor, Election Reforms, India’s space program, and the 150th anniversary of Vande Mataram, ensuring Parliament remained a forum for national dialogue on critical issues. 
  • Pioneering Digital Governance: Achieved a landmark in e-governance by making 20 State/UT Legislatures fully live on the National e-Vidhan Application (NeVA), a Digital India Mission Mode Project. Conducted the 3rd National Conference on NeVA and capacity-building workshops for state officials. 
  • Efficient House Management & Accountability: Effectively managed mechanisms like Rule 377 of Lok Sabha and Zero Hour, and ensured 100% disposal of RTI and public grievances. The Online Assurance Monitoring System (OAMS) tracked implementation of parliamentary assurances. 
  • Expanded Youth Engagement: Scaled up the Youth Parliament Programme significantly through the upgraded National Youth Parliament Scheme (NYPS) 2.0 portal, recording over 1,800 institutional registrations and 15,800 individual participations nationwide. 
  • National Celebrations & Outreach: Actively coordinated the nationwide Constitution Day 2025 and organized events for the 150th anniversary of ‘Vande Mataram, reinforcing constitutional and patriotic values. 
  • Diplomatic & Coordination Functions: Facilitated inter-parliamentary exchanges, hosting delegations from the UK, Russia, and Saudi Arabia, and provided clearances for state government delegations travelling abroad. 
  • National Initiatives: Executed Special Campaign 5.0 for cleanliness and cleared 100% of identified pendencies. Promoted Official Language implementation through committees, workshops, Hindi Pakhwada, and seminars. 
  • Committee Management: Constituted and supported 42 Consultative Committees of Members of Parliament (MPs) for various ministries, organizing 85 meetings and nominating MPs to numerous advisory boards and committees. 

World Braille Day, observed annually on 4th January, highlights Braille as a tactile literacy system that enables education, dignity, independence, and equal participation for persons with visual disabilities. 

  • About: Braille is a tactile system of reading and writing based on a six-dot cell, arranged in two columns of three dots each. Different combinations of raised dots represent letters, numerals, punctuation, and symbols, allowing reading through touch. 
  • It is not a language but a code, enabling multiple languages to be read and written in tactile form. 
  • It was introduced in India in the late 19th century and has since remained central to literacy and empowerment for the visually impaired, with India being home to 50.32 lakh persons with visual impairment (Census 2011).