{"id":64716,"date":"2026-01-20T19:55:00","date_gmt":"2026-01-20T14:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/?p=64716"},"modified":"2026-01-21T15:34:24","modified_gmt":"2026-01-21T10:04:24","slug":"news-in-short-20-01-2026","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/20-01-2026\/news-in-short-20-01-2026","title":{"rendered":"News In Short 20-01-2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Bagurumba Dance<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/Culture<\/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>The Prime Minister<\/strong> visited <strong>Assam <\/strong>&nbsp;and attended the <strong>Bagurumba Dwhou 2026.<\/strong><\/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><strong>Bagurumba,<\/strong> often referred to as the <strong>\u201cbutterfly dance\u201d,<\/strong> is one of the most <strong>significant and graceful folk dances of Assam.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>It is a<strong> mass folk dance<\/strong> of the <strong>Bodo community.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It was <strong>traditionally performed by young women,<\/strong> the dance symbolises harmony with nature, celebrating themes of fertility, peace and joy.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>fluid hand movements and gentle footwork<\/strong> mirror the flight of butterflies, reflecting the community\u2019s close bond with the natural world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The dance is closely associated with the <strong>Bwisagu festival,<\/strong> which marks the <strong>Bodo New Year and the advent of spring.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Its music,<\/strong> led by the <strong>bamboo flute-like Sifung,<\/strong> the<strong> rhythmic Kham drum<\/strong> and the <strong>resonant Serja<\/strong>, adds depth and emotion to the performance.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/news\/national\/assam\/pm-modi-to-visit-assam-for-mass-dance-kaziranga-elevated-corridor\/article70515106.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Kamchatka Peninsula<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS1\/ Physical Geography<\/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>A severe winter storm has brought life to a standstill across the Kamchatka Peninsula in Russia\u2019s Far East, with heavy snowfall burying streets and homes.<\/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>Kamchatka forms part of Russia&#8217;s Far Eastern Federal District and constitutes Kamchatka Krai, with a sparse population of about 322,000.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is 1,250-km-long peninsula located between the Sea of Okhotsk (west), Pacific Ocean, and Bering Sea (east), featuring the Sredinny (Central) and Vostochny (Eastern) Ranges with 29 active volcanoes in the UNESCO-listed Volcanoes of Kamchatka.&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Kamchatka River flows through a central valley.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-large is-resized\"><img data-dominant-color=\"c8dee5\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"512\" src=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-88-1024x512.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"not-transparent wp-image-64730\" style=\"--dominant-color: #c8dee5; width:421px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-88-1024x512.png 1024w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-88-300x150.png 300w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-88-768x384.png 768w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-88-1536x768.png 1536w, https:\/\/wp-images.nextias.com\/cdn-cgi\/image\/format=auto\/ca\/uploads\/2026\/01\/image-88.png 1600w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TH<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Responsible Nations Index (RNI)<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS2\/ Governance<\/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>India has recently introduced the Responsible Nations Index (RNI)<\/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>The Responsible Nations Index (RNI) is a global benchmarking framework that shifts the focus from mere economic power to ethical governance, sustainability, and global responsibility in assessing national performance.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The index evaluates countries across four core dimensions ethical governance, social well-being, environmental stewardship &amp; global responsibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It is developed by World Intellectual Foundation (WIF) in collaboration with Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) &amp; Indian Institute of Management Mumbai.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Singapore, Switzerland &amp; Denmark topped the list &amp; India ranks 16th globally.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2216304&amp;reg=3&amp;lang=2#:~:text=The%20Responsible%20Nations%20Index%20is,Indian%20Institute%20of%20Management%20Mumbai.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>PIB<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Social Commerce<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy<\/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>In India, despite strong potential, social commerce contributes only<strong> 1\u20132%<\/strong> of total e-commerce revenue, compared to 30\u201340% in China and 20\u201325% in Indonesia.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>What is Social Commerce?<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Social commerce refers to the <strong>buying and selling of goods directly through social media platforms.<\/strong>\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Consumers discover products while browsing social media and complete the purchase without shifting to traditional e-commerce platforms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It combines <strong>social interaction<\/strong> (influencers, live videos, community groups) with online shopping.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Influencer-led selling:<\/strong> Products are promoted by creators whom consumers trust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Live-stream shopping: <\/strong>Sellers demonstrate products in real time and interact with buyers.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Community-based selling:<\/strong> Products are sold through WhatsApp groups, Facebook pages, or regional social networks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Difference Between E-commerce and Social Commerce<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Traditional e-commerce is <strong>search-driven and platform-centric<\/strong>, whereas social commerce is <strong>discovery-driven and trust-centric.<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>E-commerce involves <strong>planned purchases,<\/strong> whereas social commerce encourages <strong>impulse buying.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Key Challenges Hindering Growth in India<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Weak authenticity checks <\/strong>in India\u2019s influencer ecosystem, unlike China\u2019s strict credibility norms, undermine consumer trust.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>High dependence on <strong>cash on delivery <\/strong>strains platform finances.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Weak logistics and digital infrastructure<\/strong> restrict scale and speed.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Fragmented retail market<\/strong> and low order values reduce profitability.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.livemint.com\/industry\/india-still-waiting-social-commerce-moment-consumer-trust-logistics-payment-11768472483190.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>LM<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>India\u2019s First Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/ Economy\/ Environment<\/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>India&#8217;s first open-sea marine fish farming project was launched at <strong>North Bay in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.<\/strong><\/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><strong>Objective: <\/strong>The primary goal is to transition towards a <strong>commercially viable model for open-sea farming<\/strong>, reduce pressure on traditional coastal fishing, and generate sustainable livelihoods for local fishing communities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Target Species: <\/strong>The initiative focuses on cultivating high-value marine finfish species like <strong>Cobia (Rachycentron canadum)<\/strong> and <strong>Seabass (Lates calcarifer)<\/strong>, alongside experimental deep-water seaweed cultivation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Implementing Agencies: <\/strong>The project is a collaboration between the Ministry of Earth Sciences, the National Institute of Ocean Technology (NIOT), and the Andaman &amp; Nicobar Islands administration.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Technology:<\/strong> The project uses advanced, indigenously developed open-sea cages designed by NIOT to withstand natural oceanic conditions.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Andaman Sea<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Andaman Sea, a marginal sea in the <strong>northeastern Indian Ocean<\/strong>, holds historical trade significance and strategic value for maritime routes and regional biodiversity.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>It controls key chokepoints like the <strong>Ten Degree Channel and Six Degree Channel<\/strong>, vital for 25% of global trade via Malacca Strait.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pib.gov.in\/PressReleseDetailm.aspx?PRID=2215808&amp;reg=3&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>New State of matter is a solid-liquid Hybrid<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Syllabus: GS3\/Science and Technology<\/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>Scientists <\/strong>have reported a new state of matter appears to be a <strong>solid-liquid hybrid.<\/strong><\/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>It is <strong>a new nanoscale state of matter<\/strong> where a<strong> single metal nanoparticle <\/strong>simultaneously <strong>exhibits solid-like and liquid-like atomic behaviour,<\/strong> challenging the sharp solid\u2013liquid distinction.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The <strong>nanoparticle<\/strong> displays the <strong>properties of solids and liquids both<\/strong>, but also unique behaviours that neither a<strong> pure liquid nor a pure solid would display on its own.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The team used a technique called <strong>high-resolution transmission electron (HRTE) <\/strong>microscopy to observe nanoparticles.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>The findings suggest<\/strong> that the boundary between solid and liquid phases at the <strong>nanoscale isn\u2019t as distinct<\/strong> as scientists have thought it to be.\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The most significant novel property the nanoparticle exhibited was the ability to<strong> remain liquid at temperatures far below<\/strong> the normal freezing point.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Practical significance:<\/strong> This behaviour could revolutionise heterogeneous catalysts (e.g., platinum-on-carbon), improving durability by preventing particle clumping and poisoning while retaining highly active liquid or amorphous states\u2014vital for fuel cells, hydrogen vehicles, pharmaceuticals, petrochemicals and pollution control.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thehindu.com\/sci-tech\/science\/new-state-of-matter-is-a-solid-liquid-hybrid\/article70524544.ece\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"><strong>TH<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading has-text-align-center\"><strong>Environmental Protection Fund<\/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 Union Government has formally notified c<strong>omprehensive rules governing the administration and utilisation<\/strong> of the<strong> Environmental (Protection) Fund.<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>About Environmental (Protection) Fund<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>The Environmental (Protection) Fund is a<strong> statutory<\/strong>, dedicated fund under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, meant to channel monetary penalties from environmental violations into pollution control, restoration, monitoring, research, and capacity building.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Is is <strong>administered by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) <\/strong>or any body notified by the Central Government<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>75% of penalty proceeds transferred to the Consolidated Fund<\/strong> of the State\/UT, 25% retained by the Centre.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) to audit the Fund.&nbsp;<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Source: TOI<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p><strong>Context<\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">The Prime Minister visited Assam  and attended the Bagurumba Dwhou 2026.\n<\/li>\n<p><\/p>\n<p><strong> About <\/strong><\/p>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">Bagurumba, often referred to as the \u201cbutterfly dance\u201d, is one of the most significant and graceful folk dances of Assam.\n <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It is a mass folk dance of the Bodo community.\n <\/li>\n<li class=\"ms-5\">It was traditionally performed by young women, the dance symbolises harmony with nature, celebrating themes of fertility, peace and joy.\n <\/li>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/current-affairs\/20-01-2026\/news-in-short-20-01-2026\" 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-64716","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\/64716","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=64716"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64716\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":64798,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/64716\/revisions\/64798"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=64716"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=64716"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.nextias.com\/ca\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=64716"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}