• Signatories: Dr. Raghavendra Bhatta, Deputy Director General (Animal Sciences) of ICAR, and S. Regupathi, Executive Director (Operations) of NDDB.
• Significance: ICAR Director General Dr. Mangala Rai described it as a historic step towards breaking down 'institutional silos' and promoting integrated farming systems.

Related Facts:

• Co-Chairs: This 16th meeting is being co-chaired by India and Malaysia.
• Participants: Representatives from 11 ASEAN member states (such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Singapore, etc.) and 7 dialogue partner countries (Australia, China, Japan, Russia, South Korea, the United States, and New Zealand) are participating.
• Objective: To strengthen regional cooperation to address the evolving nature of terrorism and to finalize the plan for the Table Top Exercise (TTX).
• Table Top Exercise (TTX): This will be hosted by Malaysia in 2026. (The final planning conference for this was held on January 14).
• Field Training Exercise (FTX): This will be a large-scale ground military exercise, which will be hosted by India (at the Counter Insurgency School in Mizoram) in 2027.
• 7 Key Areas of ADMM-Plus Cooperation: Maritime Security, Counter-Terrorism (the subject of the current meeting), Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR), Peacekeeping Operations, Military Medicine, Humanitarian Mine Action, and Cyber ​​Security.

• According to the 'Status of Tigers in India: Co-predators and Prey-2022' report, India has 3,682 tigers. The highest number of tiger deaths in India was recorded in 2023 with 182, followed by 126 in 2024 and 122 in 2022.
• The annual growth rate of tigers from the 2022 estimates was 6.1 percent, which compensates for natural losses and mortality. The tiger population increased from just 1,411 in 2006 to 3,682 in 2022, making India home to approximately 75 percent of the world's wild tigers.
• The tiger population has seen a consistent increase due to the efforts of 'Project Tiger', launched by the Government of India in 1973, and the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), which has been implementing it since 2006.

• Geographical Location: This valley is located north of the Karakoram mountain range in the Himalayas. It is an area of ​​approximately 5,180 square kilometers, which is technically part of the Union Territory of Ladakh.
• Illegal Transfer (1963): In 1947, Pakistan illegally occupied it. Later, in 1963, under the Pakistan-China border agreement, Pakistan ceded it to China.
• This valley is located just above the Siachen Glacier (the world's highest battlefield).

• Basis of the declaration: The US State Department and Treasury Department stated that these groups pose a threat to the United States and its interests.

Nature of the sanctions:

• The Lebanese branch has been designated as a "Foreign Terrorist Organization" (FTO).
• The Egyptian and Jordanian branches have been listed as "Specially Designated Global Terrorists" (SDGTs), accused of supporting Hamas.
• Executive Order: This action was taken under Executive Order 14362, signed by President Trump in November 2025.

Muslim Brotherhood:

• One of the world's oldest, largest, and most influential Islamic movements.
• Founded: In 1928 in Egypt by a school teacher, Hassan al-Banna.
• Main slogan: "Islam is the solution."
• It has been declared a "terrorist organization" by several countries (such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and now some branches by the US).

• In the financial year 2024-25, India exported goods worth $1.24 billion to Iran, while importing goods worth $0.44 billion from Iran, resulting in a total bilateral trade of $1.68 billion between the two countries.
• India exports rice, tea, sugar, medicines, man-made staple fibers, artificial jewelry, electrical machinery, etc., to Iran.
• This new decree by Donald Trump is likely to have a significant impact on India; the total tariff on India, which is already facing 50%, could reach 75%.

• Signatories: Anurag Yadav, Principal Secretary, Department of Information and Electronics, Government of Uttar Pradesh, and Abhishek Singh, Chief Executive Officer, IndiaAI Mission.
• Objective: To establish Uttar Pradesh as a leading 'AI hub' in the country and leverage AI across various sectors, from governance to citizen services.
• Lucknow AI City: A key component of this agreement is collaboration in the development of India's first proposed 'AI City' in Lucknow.
• Under the IndiaAI Mission, a total of 65 data and AI labs are planned to be established in Uttar Pradesh. Two IndiaAI Data and AI Labs are already operational at NIELIT centers in Lucknow and Gorakhpur, while one data and AI lab has been established by an industry partner in Pilibhit.
• Additionally, 49 data and AI labs have been approved by the state government, and implementation work has commenced.

• Event Dates: March 8-14, 2026
• Host City: Hyderabad, India
• Stadium: GMC Balayogi Hockey Stadium, Gachibowli
• Participating Teams: India, England, Scotland, Korea, Italy, Uruguay, Wales, and Austria
• The top three teams will directly qualify for the FIH Hockey World Cup, which will be held from August 15-30 of the following year.
• The World Cup will be held in Belgium and the Netherlands.
• Hockey India President: Dilip Tirkey

• Role: Wicketkeeper-batter and Captain
• World Cup Titles: 6-time T20 World Cup winner, 2-time ODI World Cup winner
• Debut: 2010 (against New Zealand)
• Notable Record: Record-breaking innings of 170 runs in the ODI World Cup final (2022)
• Awards: ICC Women's Cricketer of the Year (2018), Belinda Clark Award

• International Relations Committee: Its function will be to enhance India's representation in global sports bodies (such as IOC, FIFA, FIH, etc.), lobby for hosting international events, and coordinate with foreign coaches and experts.
• 'Make in India in Sports' Committee: Its main objective is to reduce dependence on the import of sports equipment and make India a global hub for sports manufacturing.

• Duration: January 13 to January 18, 2026
• Venue: Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium, New Delhi
• Total Prize Money: US$950,000
• Level: BWF World Tour Super 750
• This year, the tournament has been moved from the K.D. Jadhav Hall to the larger Indira Gandhi Indoor Stadium. The main reason for this change is to prepare for the BWF World Championships 2026, which will be held at the same venue in August of this year.
• The Indian contingent is being led by two-time Olympic medalist P.V. Sindhu, Lakshya Sen, and the doubles pair of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty.

• Location: Auriga constellation, approximately 730 light-years from Earth.
• Star: It is a white dwarf, the final stage in the life cycle of a star like our Sun, and it is pulling gas from its companion star.
• Phenomenon: As the star moves through space, it is creating a bow shock, similar to the wave formed in front of a ship, and this shockwave appears colorful as it collides with interstellar gas.
• Mystery: Typically, such shockwaves are formed when a star pulls gas from a gas disk, but in this case, there is no disk, yet this spectacular and colorful display is being created, baffling scientists.
• Significance: This discovery could change our current understanding of dead stars and their interactions with their surrounding environment and presents a major puzzle for astronomy.