{"id":63554,"date":"2026-01-06T20:11:07","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T14:41:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=63554"},"modified":"2026-01-09T13:17:17","modified_gmt":"2026-01-09T07:47:17","slug":"news-in-short-06-01-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/06-01-2026\/news-in-short-06-01-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 06-01-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Governance<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is an integrated, online pension management system for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>SAMPANN creates a <strong>single platform for processing, sanctioning and disbursing pension<\/strong> directly to the bank account of pensioners.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It also <strong>offers online grievance redressal, digital profile management and transaction record,<\/strong> enhancing transparency and efficiency for telecom retirees.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The pension related documents i.e. Gratuity Payment Orders, Pension Certificates\/ePPOs, Pension Commutation Payment Orders and Form 16 are now made available through<strong> DigiLocker.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2211490&amp;reg=6&amp;lang=1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Huntington\u2019s Disease<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/Health<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Huntington\u2019s Disease <\/strong>is increasingly recognised as <strong>underdiagnosed in India<\/strong> due to limited awareness and delayed diagnosis.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Huntington\u2019s Disease (HD)<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The disease is caused by a mutation in the <strong>huntingtin (HTT) gene<\/strong> and follows an <strong>autosomal dominant inheritance pattern<\/strong>, meaning a child inheriting the mutated gene from either parent will develop the disorder.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Consanguineous marriages<\/strong> significantly increase the probability of transmission, up to <strong>75%.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Symptoms typically begin between 40 and 50 years of age and progress over 15\u201320 years.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>While there is<strong> no cure<\/strong> for the disease, treatments are available that can improve patients\u2019 quality of life and ease the burden on caregivers.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-background has-fixed-layout\" style=\"background-color:#fff2cc\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Policy Perspective<\/strong><br><br>&#8211; The WHO defines rare diseases as those affecting 1 or fewer per 1,000 people. Although over 7,000 rare diseases exist globally, fewer than 5% have treatment options.<br>&#8211; In 2021, the Union government formulated the National Policy for Rare Diseases (NPRD)-2021 for identification, prevention and providing support to families with rare diseases.<br>The NPRD recognises <strong>63 rare diseases <\/strong>in India, but Huntington\u2019s Disease is not included. Patients with any of the 63 recognised diseases are eligible for financial assistance of up to \u20b950 lakh under PM-JAY.<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/epaper.thehindu.com\/ccidist-ws\/th\/th_international\/issues\/164706\/OPS\/GPQFD5HL9.1+GG4FD75AB.1.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Payments Regulatory Board<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The first meeting of the Payments Regulatory Board (PRB) was held under the chairmanship of RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra, marking the operationalisation of India\u2019s new payments governance framework.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Payments Regulatory Board<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was created under Section 3 of the Payment and Settlement Systems (PSS) Act, 2007.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It replaced the earlier Board for Regulation and Supervision of Payment and Settlement Systems (BPSS).<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Its objective is to ensure safety, efficiency, stability, and consumer protection in digital and non-cash payments.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: AIR<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Environment<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>In News<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The National Green Tribunal issued a notice to the Centre and the Uttar Pradesh government over non-compliance with environmental norms in the <strong>Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ).<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is the Taj Trapezium Zone (TTZ)?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>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.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It covers the broader Agra region and includes key heritage sites like the Taj Mahal, Agra Fort, and Fatehpur Sikri.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The TTZ regime traces to the Supreme Court\u2019s directions in <strong>M.C. Mehta v. Union of India (1996)<\/strong>, which mandated strong pollution-control measures in the area (including regulation of industries and emissions, and cleaner fuel\/technology measures).\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>In <strong>M.C. Mehta (2015)<\/strong>, the Supreme Court also restricted tree felling within a 5&nbsp; km aerial distance from the Taj Mahal, requiring prior permission (as per the Court\u2019s directions) before any such felling.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About NGT<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>NGT is a<strong> statutory body<\/strong> established under the<strong> National Green Tribunal Act, 2010 <\/strong>to ensure speedy and effective disposal of cases related to environmental protection and conservation.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It hears matters linked to major environmental laws in <strong>Schedule I<\/strong>, 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Wolf Supermoon<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Space<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>January 2026 Wolf Supermoon<\/strong> occurred recently.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A <strong>Wolf Supermoon<\/strong> combines two distinct concepts: <strong>Wolf Moon<\/strong> and <strong>Supermoon<\/strong>.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Wolf Moon:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The term refers to the <strong>full moon occurring in January<\/strong>. Such traditional names for full moons originated from seasonal patterns and were popularised through folklore and almanacs to mark time before modern calendars.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The name is associated with winter stories of wolves being heard more frequently, though it has <strong>no astronomical significance<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Supermoon:<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>A supermoon is an <strong>astronomical phenomenon<\/strong> that occurs when a full moon coincides with the Moon\u2019s closest approach to Earth, known as <strong>perigee<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Moon follows an <strong>elliptical orbit<\/strong>, with its farthest point called <strong>apogee<\/strong>.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Features<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>During a Wolf Supermoon, the Moon appears slightly larger and brighter than a typical full moon.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>An associated visual effect is the Moon Illusion, where the Moon appears larger near the horizon due to human perception, not actual size change.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/what-is-a-wolf-supermoon\/article70470023.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">TH<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Suryastra Rocket Launcher System<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Defence<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Context<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Indian Army has signed a <strong>\u20b9293 crore <\/strong>contract with the NIBE Limited, in collaboration with Israel, for the supply of the long-range Suryastra Rocket Launcher system.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Suryastra Rocket Launcher<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Suryastra is India\u2019s <strong>first indigenously manufactured universal multi-calibre rocket <\/strong>launcher capable of precision surface-to-surface strikes up to 300 km.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The system can integrate and<strong> fire multiple rocket types<\/strong> from the same launcher, enabling flexibility across operational scenarios.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It has demonstrated a<strong> Circular Error Probable (CEP) <\/strong>of less than five metres, indicating high-precision deep-strike capability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The launcher is also capable of<strong> firing loitering munitions up to 100 km<\/strong>, expanding its role beyond conventional rocket artillery.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/army-to-procure-long-range-rocket-launchers-in-major-deal-backed-by-israeli-technology\/article70468168.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong> Context <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">SAMPANN (System for Accounting and Management of Pension) is an integrated, online pension management system for Department of Telecommunications (DoT) pensioners.<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> SAMPANN creates a single platform for processing, sanctioning and disbursing pension directly to the bank account of pensioners.\u00a0<\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\"> It also offers online grievance redressal, digital profile management and transaction record, enhancing transparency and efficiency for telecom retirees. <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/06-01-2026\/news-in-short-06-01-2026\" class=\"btn btn-primary btn-sm float-end\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[21],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-63554","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-current-affairs"],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63554","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=63554"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63554\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":63818,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/63554\/revisions\/63818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=63554"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=63554"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=63554"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}