News In Short 06-01-2026

SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension)

Syllabus: GS2/ Governance

Context

• SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is an integrated, online pension management system for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners.

About

• SAMPANN creates a single platform for processing, sanctioning and disbursing pension directly to the bank account of pensioners. 
• It also offers online grievance redressal, digital profile management and transaction record, enhancing transparency and efficiency for telecom retirees.
• The pension related documents i.e. Gratuity Payment Orders, Pension Certificates/ePPOs, Pension Commutation Payment Orders and Form 16 are now made available through DigiLocker.

Source: PIB

Huntington’s Disease

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• Huntington’s Disease is increasingly recognised as underdiagnosed in India due to limited awareness and delayed diagnosis.

About Huntington’s Disease (HD)

• It is a rare, progressive, hereditary neurodegenerative disorder that affects the brain and leads to motor dysfunction, cognitive decline, and psychiatric disturbances (depression, psychosis, irritability, OCD), resulting in lifelong disability.
• The disease is caused by a mutation in the huntingtin (HTT) gene and follows an autosomal dominant inheritance pattern, meaning a child inheriting the mutated gene from either parent will develop the disorder.
  • Consanguineous marriages significantly increase the probability of transmission, up to 75%.
• Symptoms typically begin between 40 and 50 years of age and progress over 15–20 years.
• While there is no cure for the disease, treatments are available that can improve patients’ quality of life and ease the burden on caregivers.

Source: TH

Payments Regulatory Board

Syllabus: GS3/ Economy

In News

• The first meeting of the Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) was held under the chairmanship of RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, marking the operationalisation of India’s new payments governance framework.

About Payments Regulatory Board

• The Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) is a statutory body through which the Reserve Bank of India exercises regulatory and supervisory control over payment and settlement systems in India.
• It was created under Section 3 of the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007.
• It replaced the earlier Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS).
• Its objective is to ensure safety, efficiency, stability, and consumer protection in digital and non-cash payments.

Source: AIR

Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)

Syllabus: GS3/ Environment

In News

• The National Green Tribunal issued a notice to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government over non-compliance with environmental norms in the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).

What is the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)?

• The Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ) is a protected eco-sensitive area of about 10,400 sq. km created to protect the Taj Mahal from environmental pollution and ecological degradation.
• It covers the broader Agra region and includes key heritage sites like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.
• The TTZ regime traces to the Supreme Court’s directions in M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1996), which mandated strong pollution-control measures in the area (including regulation of industries and emissions, and cleaner fuel/technology measures).
  • In M.C. Mehta (2015), the Supreme Court also restricted tree felling within a 5  km aerial distance from the Taj Mahal, requiring prior permission (as per the Court’s directions) before any such felling.

About NGT

• NGT is a statutory body established under the National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 to ensure speedy and effective disposal of cases related to environmental protection and conservation. 
• It hears matters linked to major environmental laws in Schedule I, including the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981, among others.

Source: TH

Wolf Supermoon

Syllabus: GS3/Space

Context

• The January 2026 Wolf Supermoon occurred recently.

About

• A Wolf Supermoon combines two distinct concepts: Wolf Moon and Supermoon.
  • Wolf Moon:
    • The term refers to the full moon occurring in January. Such traditional names for full moons originated from seasonal patterns and were popularised through folklore and almanacs to mark time before modern calendars.
    • The name is associated with winter stories of wolves being heard more frequently, though it has no astronomical significance.
  • Supermoon:
    • A supermoon is an astronomical phenomenon that occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon’s closest approach to Earth, known as perigee.
    • The Moon follows an elliptical orbit, with its farthest point called apogee.

Key Features

• During a Wolf Supermoon, the Moon appears slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon.
• An associated visual effect is the Moon Illusion, where the Moon appears larger near the horizon due to human perception, not actual size change.

Source: TH

Suryastra Rocket Launcher System

Syllabus: GS3/ Defence

Context

• The Indian Army has signed a ₹293 crore contract with the NIBE Limited, in collaboration with Israel, for the supply of the long-range Suryastra Rocket Launcher system.

About Suryastra Rocket Launcher

• Suryastra is India’s first indigenously manufactured universal multi-calibre rocket launcher capable of precision surface-to-surface strikes up to 300 km.
• The system can integrate and fire multiple rocket types from the same launcher, enabling flexibility across operational scenarios.
• It has demonstrated a Circular Error Probable (CEP) of less than five metres, indicating high-precision deep-strike capability.
• The launcher is also capable of firing loitering munitions up to 100 km, expanding its role beyond conventional rocket artillery.

Source: TH