News In Short 09-01-2026

PANKHUDI Portal

Syllabus: GS1/Women Empowerment

In News

• The Ministry of Women and Child Development launched PANKHUDI Portal.

PANKHUDI Portal

• It is an integrated Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and partnership facilitation digital portal.
• It is  aimed at strengthening coordination, transparency, and structured stakeholder participation in initiatives for women and child development.

Features 

• PANKHUDI is developed as a single-window digital platform that brings together individuals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) contributors, corporate entities, and government agencies working in the domain of women and child development.
• It streamlines and unifies voluntary and institutional contributions across key thematic areas including nutrition, health, Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE), child welfare, protection and rehabilitation, and women’s safety and empowerment.
• It supports and strengthens the implementation of the Ministry’s flagship missions—Mission Saksham Anganwadi & Poshan 2.0, Mission Vatsalya, and Mission Shakti—through a structured and transparent digital mechanism. 

Importance 

• The PANKHUDI portal uses digital technology to strengthen CSR partnerships and improve infrastructure and services for women and children across India, enhancing service delivery through key institutions and benefiting millions of citizens.

Source  :PIB

Graham-Blumenthal Sanctions Bill

Syllabus: GS2/IR

Context

• U.S. President Donald Trump has given his nod to the Graham-Blumenthal sanctions bill that will authorise the US President to levy up to 500% tariffs on nations that knowingly purchase Russian oil or uranium.

About

• This Bill would give the US tremendous leverage against countries like China, India, and Brazil to incentivise them to stop buying the cheap Russian oil.
• In 2018, under similar pressure from the previous Trump administration, India had “zeroed out” its oil imports from Iran and Venezuela as well.
• Tariffs on India: The United States has imposed high tariffs on Indian goods, up to 50%. 
  • Part of this tariff is connected to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
• India’s Stand: India says the decision to buy oil from Russia is based on national interest. It wants to ensure energy security and keep fuel prices affordable for its people. 

Source: TH

Spina Bifida

Syllabus: GS2/ Health

Context

• Many countries launched national awareness campaigns and programs to prevent spina bifida through folic acid supplementation.

What Is Spina Bifida?

• Spina Bifida is a congenital defect of the spinal cord caused by improper closure of the neural tube during early pregnancy.
• The condition results in varying degrees of paralysis, ranging from mild weakness of the feet to complete paralysis of the lower limbs.
• Many affected children also suffer from hydrocephalus, urinary and bowel incontinence, and orthopaedic deformities such as clubfoot.
• Role of Folic Acid in Prevention: Periconceptional folic acid intake prevents over 70% of Spina Bifida cases.
  • Folic acid is a B-complex vitamin that supports neural tube development in the embryo.

Source: TH

U.S. Withdraw From International Solar Alliance

Syllabus: GS2/International Relations

Context

• The United States has announced its withdrawal from the International Solar Alliance (ISA).

About International Solar Alliance

• Genesis: India and France jointly launched the International Solar Alliance (ISA) during 21st Conference of Parties (COP21) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) held in Paris in 2015.
• Aim:  To contribute to the implementation of the Paris Climate Agreement through the rapid and massive deployment of solar energy.
• Secretariat: Gurugram.
• Governance: The ISA’s governance structure integrates decision-making across Regional Committees, the Standing Committee, and the ISA Assembly, ISA’s apex decision – making body
• Members: Member Countries are countries which have signed and ratified the Framework Agreement of the ISA.
  • At present,  more than 120 countries are signatories to the ISA Framework Agreement.

Source: TH

Satellite Tagging of Sea Turtles Aims to Aid Conservation

Syllabus: GS3/Species In News

Context

• In a first-of-its-kind initiative, Olive Ridley sea turtles nesting on Chennai’s coast have been satellite-tagged and released as part of a two-year telemetry study (2025–27) to strengthen conservation efforts.
  • It will track turtle movements, nesting behaviour, migratory routes, and interactions with fishing activities across key sites.

About Olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea)

• Olive ridley turtles (Lepidochelys olivacea) are the smallest and most abundant of all sea turtles in the world.
• They get their name from the olive green colour of their heart-shaped shell, and inhabit warm waters of the Pacific, Atlantic, and Indian oceans.
• These are carnivores and feed mainly on jellyfish, shrimp etc.
• These turtles are best known for their unique mass nesting called Arribada, where thousands of females come together on the same beach to lay eggs.
• Major nesting sites in India are Rushikulya rookery coast (Odisha), Gahirmatha beach (Bhitarkanika National park) and the mouth of the Debi River.
• Odisha is the largest mass nesting site for Olive Ridleys in the world.
• Protection status:  IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I

Source :TH

Bio-bitumen

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen in road construction.

About

• Bitumen is a black, viscous mixture of hydrocarbons produced by the fractionation of crude oil, and it serves as a crucial binder in road construction. 
  • The process of making bio-bitumen involves collection of post-harvest rice straw, palletisation, pyrolysis to produce bio-oil, and subsequent blending with conventional bitumen. 
• India currently imports nearly 50% of its bitumen requirement, and innovations like bio-bitumen would significantly reduce foreign dependence while strengthening domestic capabilities.
• The initiative will help in reducing pollution from crop residue burning. 

Source: PIB