Your College Notes

Blinking Text
Blinking Text

📞 011-69270320

Menu
start learning

Current Affairs 27 January 2026

Tamil Nadu has formally opposed the University Grants Commission’s (UGC) circular mandating a third language in higher educational institutions, characterizing it as an “indirect attempt to impose Hindi” and reaffirming the State’s steadfast commitment to its historic two-language policy. 

  • Rejection of Three-Language Formula: Tamil Nadu categorically rejected the three-language formula prescribed in the Centre’s National Education Policy (NEP), 2020, viewing the recent UGC circular as an infringement on State policy. 
  • The NEP 2020 promotes multilingualism by requiring students to learn three languages, with at least two being native Indian languages (including a regional language). The third language can be English or another modern Indian/foreign language. 

6th ADGMIN Meeting 

  • Joint Statement: The meeting acknowledged the adoption of the ASEAN–India Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation (2024), aimed at strengthening cooperation on Digital Public Infrastructure (DPI), Financial Technology, Cybersecurity, Artificial Intelligence (AI), capacity building, and sustainable financing. 
  • Work Plans & Funding: Progress on the ASEAN-India 2025 Digital Work Plan was reviewed, and a new ASEAN-India Digital Work Plan for 2026 was welcomed.  
  • The meeting also announced the operationalization of the special ‘ASEAN-India Fund for Digital Future’ to support collaborative initiatives between India and ASEAN in the domain of digital transformation and related technologies like Cybersecurity. 
  • India’s Digital Showcase: India highlighted its rapid digital transformation, including near-universal 4G coverage, the world’s fastest 5G rollout, BharatNet for rural broadband, and its emergence as a mobile manufacturing hub.  
  • It offered to share expertise in its DPI (Aadhaar, UPI, DigiLocker) and the Sanchar Saathi initiative. 
  • Focus on Artificial Intelligence: India outlined its IndiaAI Mission with a focus on Safe and Trusted AI and expressed readiness to collaborate with ASEAN on AI capacity building, standards development, and practical use cases.

Granth Kutir 

  • About: Granth Kutir is a dedicated book house showcasing India’s classical knowledge traditions. 
  • It houses works in 11 Indian classical languages such as Tamil, Sanskrit, Kannada, Malayalam and Marathi, with a collection of around 2,300 books and nearly 50 manuscripts.  
  • Several manuscripts are handwritten on traditional materials such as palm leaf, paper, bark, and cloth. 
  • Coverage: The collection covers epics, philosophy, linguistics, history, governance, science, devotional literature, and the Constitution of India. 
  • Collaboration: It has been developed through collaboration among central and state governments, universities, research institutions, cultural organisations, and individual donors. 
  • The initiative is supported by the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of Culture, and expert guidance from  Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA). 
  • Significance: It aims to enhance public awareness of India’s cultural and literary heritage and promote unity in diversity. 
  • It supports the Gyan Bharatam Mission and reinforces efforts to preserve, promote, and transmit India’s classical languages and knowledge systems. 

Padma Awards

  • About: The Padma Awards, alongside the Bharat Ratna, are the nation’s premier awards for recognizing distinguished contributions across all fields of public service and human endeavour. 
  • Historical Evolution: The Padma Awards were instituted in 1954. Initially, two civilian awards were created, i.e., Bharat Ratna (the highest) and Padma Vibhushan (with three classes). In 1955, Padma Vibhushan classes were restructured into the three distinct awards in descending order of prestige: 
  • Padma Vibhushan: For “exceptional and distinguished service”; the 2nd-highest civilian award after the Bharat Ratna. 
  • Padma Bhushan: For “distinguished service of high order”. 
  • Padma Shri: For “distinguished service in any field. 
  • Broad Scope: Awards are given across diverse disciplines, including Art, Social Work, Public Affairs, Science & Engineering, Civil Service, and more. 
  • Eligibility: All individuals, irrespective of race, occupation, rank, or gender—including Indian citizens, foreigners, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs—are eligible for these awards. 
  • Since 2014, the government has been recognizing “unsung heroes” with the Padma Awards, transforming them into the “People’s Padma”. 
  • Selection Process: It is governed by the Padma Awards Committee, which is appointed annually by the Prime Minister. The committee is chaired by the Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President, and 4–6 eminent persons. Its recommendations are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for final approval. 
  • Based on the committee recommendations, it is announced annually on the eve of Republic Day and formally conferred by the President of India in March/April, with recipients receiving a Sanad (certificate), medallion, and replica. 

Abolition of Titles (Article 18 of the Constitution) 

  • About: Article 18(1) of the Indian Constitution embodies the principle of social equality by abolishing all titles and prohibiting the State from conferring titles on any person, citizen or non-citizen. 
  •  A title refers to a hereditary or perpetual prefix or suffix (e.g., Rai Bahadur, Nawab) attached to a name, which creates artificial distinctions of status. 
  • Key Exceptions: The prohibition has two explicit exceptions i.e., military and academic distinctions. Thus, universities can grant academic honours and the state can confer military awards. 
  • Padma awards were not conferred during the years 1978, 1979, and from 1993 to 1997. 
  • Judicial Clarification: 
  • Balaji Raghavan v. Union of India, 1996: The Supreme Court (SC) held that National awards like Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Shri are not considered titles under Article 18(1).  
  • They are state recognitions of exceptional work and merit, not hereditary or personal distinctions. 
  • Indira Jaising v. Supreme Court of India, 2017: The SC ruled that the designation ‘senior advocate’ is a professional demarcation of experience and proficiency, not a title, and thus does not violate Article 18.