News In Short 14-01-2026

Valley of Flowers

Syllabus: GS1/Geography

Context

• A fire has been raging near the Valley of Flowers forcing the Forest Department to seek the help of the Air Force.

About Valley of Flowers

• It is situated in the Chamoli district of Uttarakhand inside the Valley of Flowers National Park, which is part of the Nanda Devi Biosphere Reserve. 
• It is called the Valley of Flowers because the entire valley comes alive with thousands of blooming flowers during the monsoon. 
• It was declared a National Park in 1982. In 2005, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its unmatched beauty and unique alpine ecosystem. 
• The valley was officially discovered by British mountaineer Frank Smythe in 1931 when he accidentally reached the location.

Source: TH

NPS Vatsalya Scheme, 2025

Syllabus: GS2/ Government Schemes

In News

• The Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) has issued guidelines for the NPS Vatsalya Scheme, 2025, expanding the National Pension System (NPS) framework to enable early-life pension inclusion for minors.

About NPS Vatsalya Scheme, 2025

• NPS Vatsalya is a pension savings scheme for minors under the National Pension System.
• It allows a parent or legal guardian to open and operate an NPS account on behalf of a child.
• Key Features
  • Eligibility: Indian citizens below 18 years of age.
  • Account Type: Individual pension account in the name of the minor.
  • Operation: Managed by parent/guardian until the child attains majority.
  • Conversion: On turning 18, the account is converted into a regular NPS account.
  • Minimum Contribution: Minimum initial and annual contribution of ₹250 and no maximum limit on contributions.
  • Investment: Funds invested through Pension Fund Managers (PFMs) as per NPS guidelines.

Source: PIB

Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters

Syllabus: GS2/IR

In News

• Senior Indian diplomat DB Venkatesh Varma has been nominated by the UN Secretary General to chair the Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters for the 2026–27 term, marking the first time an Indian will hold the position.

Advisory Board on Disarmament Matters

• It was established in 1978 pursuant to paragraph 124 of the Final Document of the Tenth Special Session of the General Assembly.
• Composition :  Members of the Advisory Board are chosen by the Secretary General from all regions of the world based on their knowledge and experience in disarmament and international security.
  • The Board comprises fifteen members, with the Director of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research serving as an ex officio member.
• Functions : It advises the Secretary-General on issues related to arms limitation and disarmament, including studies and research carried out under the auspices of the United Nations or institutions within the UN system.
  • It serves as the Board of Trustees of the United Nations Institute for Disarmament Research. It also advises the Secretary General on the implementation of the United Nations Disarmament Information Programme.

Source :FP

NIRANTAR Platform

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

In News

• The Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change chaired a meeting of the National Institute for Research & Application of Natural Resources to Transform, Adapt and Build Resilience (NIRANTAR).

NIRANTAR

• It is  a platform of institutions under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) aimed at improving coordination and collaboration.
• Its four verticals focus on research, assessment, and utilisation of resources, particularly bioresources, to ensure their sustainable use for development.
• The NIRANTAR platform can play a key role in ensuring bioresources sustainable use for development. 

Source :PIB

Quick Commerce Platforms to stop 10-minute Service

Syllabus: GS3/Economy

Context

• Indian quick commerce firms Swiggy and ‍Zepto have changed the branding of their quick commerce operations to stop promoting it as ‌a “10-minute” service following a government order.
  • The move is aimed at ensuring greater safety, security and improved working conditions for gig workers.

Who are Gig Workers?

• Non-standard or gig work consists of income-earning activities outside of standard, long-term employer-employee relationships. 
• It relies heavily on temporary and part-time positions filled by independent contractors and freelancers rather than full-time permanent employees.
• The term is borrowed from the music world, where performers book “gigs” that are single or short-term engagements at various venues.
• The gig economy uses digital platforms to connect freelancers with customers to provide short-term services or asset-sharing.
  • Examples include ride-hailing apps, food delivery apps, and holiday rental apps.

India’s Gig Economy

• India’s gig workforce is projected to grow from 1 crore in 2024–25 to 2.35 crore by 2029–30.
• Code on Social Security, 2020 provides legal recognition and social security benefits to gig and platform workers.

• e-Shram portal has registered over 30.98 crore unorganised workers, including 3.37 lakh platform workers.
  • Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and West Bengal have the highest registrations, with strong female participation.

Source: TH

Pufferfish Poisoning

Syllabus: GS3/Species 

In News

• Scientists have confirmed India’s first case of pufferfish poisoning, drawing attention to a largely unrecognised riverine health risk.

Pufferfish

• It  belongs to the order Tetraodontiformes and is known locally by names such as toadfish, patkafish, balloonfish and fugu.
  • Global catalogues list approximately 190–193 valid species. 
• It is omnivorous and benthic in habitat and Freshwater pufferfish species reported from India are often endemic to specific geographical areas and serve as indicators of healthy river ecosystems. 

Status in India 

• Indian waters currently support eight genera and 32 species of pufferfish. 
• Their distribution is specific to certain regions and river systems, primarily the Western Ghats and major basins such as the Ganga, Brahmaputra and Mahanadi. 
• IUCN Red List status :   The dwarf pufferfish is classified as Vulnerable on the International Union for Conservation of Nature’s Red List due to declining populations caused by wastewater pollution and collection for the aquarium trade.

Pufferfish poisoning 

• Pufferfish are ecologically important and often indicators of healthy freshwater systems
• Some Pufferfish carry tetrodotoxin (TTX), which blocks nerve sodium channels and can cause paralysis, respiratory failure and death.
  • The toxin is heat-stable and has no known antidote.
• Evidence suggests pufferfish do not produce TTX themselves; instead, the toxin likely originates from symbiotic or ingested bacteria such as Vibrio, Aeromonas and Bacillus. 
• Across Asia, pufferfish poisoning is widely documented, with deaths reported in Bangladesh, Singapore and Hong Kong. In Japan, where pufferfish (fugu) is consumed as a delicacy, only licensed chefs are permitted to prepare it.
  •  India, however, lacks comparable protective measures.

Source :DTE