INSIGHTS Daily Current Affairs – 30 January 2026

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 January 2026 covers important current affairs of the day, their backward linkages, their relevance for Prelims exam and MCQs on main articles

InstaLinks : Insta Links help you think beyond the current affairs issue and help you think multidimensionally to develop depth in your understanding of these issues. These linkages provided in this ‘hint’ format help you frame possible questions in your mind that might arise(or an examiner might imagine) from each current event. InstaLinks also connect every issue to their static or theoretical background.

Table of Contents

GS Paper 1 & 2:

1. Rising Digital Addiction and Mental Health Problems

GS Paper 2:

2. Health Spending in India

 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME):

1. Social Sector Paradox

Facts for Prelims (FFP):

1. Power Gap Index

2. Government Notifies Coking Coal as Critical & Strategic Minerals

3. Digital Food Currency

4. Western Disturbance

5. Paathara (Khoni) Practice

6. The Living Root Bridges

 Mapping:

1. The Shiveluch volcano

UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 January 2026

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GS Paper 1 & 2:

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Rising Digital Addiction and Mental Health Problems

Source:  TH

Subject:  Population and Associated Issues

Context: The Economic survey 2025-26, has flagged the rapid rise of digital addiction and screen-related mental health issues as a significant public health threat and a risk to India’s long-term economic productivity.

About Rising Digital Addiction and Mental Health Problems:

What it is?

• Digital addiction is defined by the Survey as a pattern of persistent, compulsive, or excessive engagement with digital devices and online activities that leads to psychological distress and functional impairment. This manifests primarily as:
• Mental Health: Anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem linked to social comparison and cyberbullying.
• physical health: Sleep debt, reduced physical activity, and tech neck symptoms.
• Cognitive Decline: Reduced attention spans and a loss of social capital through weaker offline peer networks.

Key Trends Identified in Economic Survey 2025-26:

• Near-Universal Access: Internet connections jumped from 250 million in 2014 to nearly 970 million in 2024, with mobile/internet use almost universal among the 15-29 age group.
• Usage Surge: Recent data shows Indians spent a staggering 1 lakh crore hours on smartphones in 2024.
• Education Gap: The ASER 2024shows only 57% of children aged 14-16 use phones for education, while 76% use them for social media.
• High-Risk Demographics: Youth aged 15-24 are identified as the most vulnerable to social media addiction and gaming disorders.
• Economic Contribution: The digital economy now accounts for 74% of India’s national income, highlighting the paradox of growth vs. behavioral health.
• Healthcare Shift: [MMR] has declined by 86% since 1990, but new lifestyle-driven non-infectious mental health issues are now replacing traditional health crises.

Key Causes of Digital Addiction:

• Dopamine-Driven Algorithms: Platforms use auto-play and infinite scroll to maximize engagement.

E.g. Social media giants like Meta and Google are noted to design algorithms that specifically target the 15-24 age group’s psychological vulnerabilities.

• Pandemic-Induced Screen Dependency: COVID-19 isolation normalized digital spaces for all social and educational needs.

E.g. Schools and colleges shifted entirely to online platforms, making high screen time a mandatory part of life for students.

• Cheap Data and  5G rollout: India has some of the world’s most affordable data, removing barriers to high-intensity streaming.

E.g. The rapid expansion of 5G has led to a surge in high-definition video consumption and real-money gaming.

• Gaming and Gambling Incentives: Real-money gaming apps use financial incentives to hook users.

E.g. The rise in online money games prompted the government to pass the Online Gaming (Regulation) Act, 2025 to curb financial ruin.

• Urban lifestyle and Isolation: Higher risk is noted among urban residents with fewer traditional social support systems.

E.g. Urban slums and peri-urban areas show rising health hotspots where digital addiction replaces outdoor recreational opportunities.

Key Challenges for India:

• Lack of National Data: There is no comprehensive data on prevalence, which makes targeted interventions difficult.

E.g. The Survey admits that the Second (NMHS) is still pending to provide the actionable insights needed.

• Technological Workarounds: Children often bypass age restrictions or parental controls easily.

E.g. Psychologists warn that if limits are viewed as punishment, Indian children are likely to use VPNs or fake accounts to bypass them.

E.g. Proposed age-based limits and advertising bans could significantly shake up the business models of Meta and Google in India.

• Normalisation of Behavior: Excessive screen use is often seen as modernity rather than a clinical problem.

E.g. Parents often use screens as digital babysitters for toddlers as young as two, disrupting early brain development.

• Inadequate Specialist Care: While digital use is universal, specialized clinics for tech addiction are extremely rare.

E.g. Specialized facilities like the SHUT Clinic at NIMHANS exist only in major hubs, leaving rural youth underserved.

Way Ahead:

• Network-Level Safeguards: Implement ISP-level family data plans with differentiated quotas (unlimited for education, capped for recreation).
• Regulatory Age Limits: Consider age-based access limits (like Australia’s U-16 ban) and mandatory age verification for social media and gambling apps.
• Digital Wellness Curriculum: Introduce mandatory school programs covering screen-time literacy, cyber safety, and mental health awareness.
• Offline Infrastructure: Establish offline youth hubs and mandatory physical activity in schools to provide attractive alternatives to digital spaces.
• Tele Manas expansion : Scale the national helpline to move beyond crisis counseling and actively manage digital behavior and digital diets.

Conclusion:

The Economic Survey 2025-26 emphasizes that India must transition from a focus on digital access to digital wellness to protect its demographic dividend. By balancing regulatory safeguards with a culture of offline engagement, the nation can ensure technology remains a tool for empowerment rather than a source of addiction sustain investment in mental health and community-level surveillance will be the cornerstone of India’s future productivity.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 January 2026 GS Paper 2:

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Health Spending in India

Source:  TH

Subject:  Health

Context: Recent data and the Economic survey 2025-26indicate a significant shift in India’s health financing landscape: while state governments have ramped up their spending, the Union government’s health expenditure as a percentage of GDP has witnessed a post-pandemic decline.

About Health Spending in India:

What it is?

• Health spending refers to the total public and private expenditure on healthcare services, infrastructure, and research. In India, it is a concurrent subject, where both the Centre and States contribute. It is categorized into:
• Government Health Expenditure (GHE): Spending by Union and State governments (currently approx. 1.1% to 1.9% of GDP).
• Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE): Money paid directly by households, which remains high in India at nearly 48%.

Key Trends in Health Expenditure:

• Centre vs. State Divergence: State spending increased from 0.67% (2017-18) to 1% of GDP (2025-26 BE), whereas Union spending dropped from 0.37% (2020-21) to 0.29% (2025-26 BE).
• Budgetary Share Decline: The share of health in the total Union Budget fell from 2.26% during the pandemic to 05% in the 2025-26 Budget Estimates.
• Inflationary Impact: In real terms (adjusted for price rises), the Union health allocation for 2025-26 is 7% less than what was actually spent in 2020-21.
• Cess Utilization Issues: Only one-fourth of the Health and Education Cess (HEC) collected in FY24 (approx. ₹17,795 crore) was actually funneled into health.
• Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) Squeeze: Union transfers to States for schemes like the National Health Mission (NHM) dropped from 75.9% of its health budget in 2014-15 to just 43% in 2024-25.

Need for Increase in Health Expenditure:

• Bridging the NHP 2017 Target: India is still far from the National Health Policy goal of spending 2.5% of GDP on health by 2025.

E.g. Despite the 2025 deadline passing, the combined public spending lingers around 1.9%, necessitating a 3x increase in Union allocations to reach 1% of GDP.

• Reducing Out-of-Pocket Expenditure (OOPE): High OOPE pushes millions into poverty every year due to catastrophic health costs.

E.g. Households still bear 48% of costs, compared to the global average where public funding covers the majority of primary care.

• Strengthening Primary Healthcare: Robust primary care reduces the burden on expensive tertiary hospitals.

E.g. The decline in NHM real-term funding (5.5% average drop recently) threatens the gatekeeping role of rural health centers.

• Tackling the Dual Disease Burden: India faces rising Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) alongside persistent infectious diseases.

E.g. NCDs are estimated to cost India $6 trillion by 2030, requiring massive investment in preventive screenings.

• Achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC): Expansion of insurance must be matched by public infrastructure to ensure quality.

E.g. The expansion of Ayushman Vay Vandana (for seniors 70+) requires scaled-up hospital capacity to handle the increased patient load.

Initiatives Taken:

• Ayushman Bharat (PM-JAY): Provides ₹5 lakh coverage per family; recently expanded in 2024-25 to include all senior citizens aged 70+.
• PM-ABHIM: A ₹64,180 crore mission aimed at plugging gaps in health infrastructure and pandemic preparedness until 2026.
• Tele-MANAS: A national mental health helpline that has handled over 28 lakh calls and was upgraded in 2025 with multi-lingual UI and AI chatbots.
• Ayushman Arogya Mandirs (AAM): Transitioning 1.7 lakh centers into wellness hubs for comprehensive primary healthcare.
• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM): Creation of over 72 crore ABHA IDs to enable seamless digital health records across the country.

Key Challenges Associated:

• Hyper-Centralization of Funds: States bear the primary delivery burden, but the Union’s share in CSS is declining.

E.g. The Union’s transfer to States for health schemes reached a decade-low of 43% in 2024-25, straining State finances.

• Inadequate Absorptive Capacity: Some states struggle to utilize allocated funds due to administrative bottlenecks.

E.g. Significant portions of NHM funds often remain unspent in high-focus states due to a lack of trained manpower.

• Workforce Shortages: Infrastructure exists, but there is a lack of qualified medical personnel at the point of delivery.

E.g. Rural Health Statistics (2025) show nearly 40% vacancy in male health worker posts across many sanctioned primary centers.

E.g. MedTech firms face an 18% GST on raw materials but only 5% on finished devices, creating a liquidity crunch.

• Data Gaps: The delay in the National Mental Health Survey (NMHS-2) hinders evidence-based policymaking for new threats like digital addiction.

E.g. Without disaggregated data, it remains impossible to track exact spending on specific programs like the National Mental Health Programme.

Way Ahead:

• Institutionalize the 1% Goal: The Centre must raise its specific health spending to 1% of GDP to act as a stable anchor for the states.
• Ensure Cess Transparency: All HEC collections must be statutorily ring-fenced for health expenditure rather than general revenue supplementation.
• Decentralized Infrastructure: Incentivize the private and public sectors to set up multi-specialty hospitals in Tier 3 and 4 cities.
• Focus on Prevention: Shift the budgetary bias from tertiary care (AIIMS-centric) to preventive and primary care (NHM-centric).
• GST Rationalization: Align tax rates for medical equipment and services to encourage the Make in India MedTech ecosystem.

Conclusion:

India’s health sector stands at a crossroads where impressive gains in maternal and infant mortality are threatened by a post-pandemic stagnation in Union funding. To secure the demographic dividend, a structural shift toward a Digital Wellness and Prevention-First model is essential. Only by aligning fiscal priority with the National Health Policy’s 2.5% target can India achieve resilient and universal healthcare.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 January 2026 Content for Mains Enrichment (CME)

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Social Sector Paradox

Context: The Economic Survey 2025–26 has highlighted a social sector paradox, noting that while India has made significant gains in health outcomes, progress in education quality and urbanisation has remained uneven and stagnant.

About Social Sector Paradox:

What is the social sector paradox?

• The social sector paradox refers to a situation where headline social indicators improve, but foundational capacities lag behind. In India’s case, the Survey shows that:
• Health indicators (life expectancy, maternal and child mortality) have steadily improved,
• while education outcomes and urban capacity have not kept pace with enrolment, population growth, and economic expansion.

In short, access has expanded, but outcomes and quality remain constrained.

Key trends highlighted by the Survey:

• Education: Enrolment without learning:

• • Near-universal elementary enrolment, but low learning levels in reading and arithmetic.
  • Expected years of schooling (13 years) remain below major economies.
  • Sharp dropouts after Grade VIII, with secondary net enrolment at just 52.2%.

• Health: Sustained progress with emerging risks

• • Decline in maternal mortality, under-five deaths, and rise in life expectancy (70+ years).
  • Expansion of digital health and insurance coverage.
  • New challenges from non-communicable diseases, obesity, and lifestyle disorders.

• Urbanisation: Economic engines with weak foundations

• • Cities generate a large share of GDP but suffer from:
    • Low municipal revenues
    • Limited capacity for housing, transport, sanitation, and climate resilience
  • Weak urban finance constrains productivity and quality of life.

Implications of the social sector paradox

• Human capital risk: Low learning outcomes and adolescent dropouts can weaken India’s demographic dividend.
• Inequality persistence: Rural, poor, and marginalised groups face compounded disadvantages despite higher enrolment.
• Urban growth bottlenecks: Under-funded cities may become constraints rather than catalysts of growth.
• Policy reorientation needed: The focus must shift from coverage-led expansion to outcome-led governance—learning quality, preventive healthcare, and empowered urban local bodies.

Relevance for UPSC examination

• GS Paper II (Governance & Social Justice)

• • Education quality, health outcomes, urban governance
  • NEP, public health systems, municipal finance

• GS Paper III (Human Resource & Inclusive Growth)

• • Human capital formation
  • Demographic dividend vs demographic burden
  • Sustainable urbanisation

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 January 2026 Facts for Prelims (FFP)

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Power Gap Index

Source:  BS

Subject:  Miscellaneous

Context: The Economic Survey 2025-26, tabled in Parliament has cited the Power Gap Index for the first time.

• The Survey highlights a critical Strategic Paradox: while India has officially entered the Major Power category, it still registers a negative Power Gap score of -4.0, indicating that the nation is operating below its full strategic potential.

About Power Gap Index:

What is it?

• The Power Gap Index is a secondary analytical measure derived from the Asia Power Index. It measures a country’s Power Efficiency—the ability to convert raw resources (wealth and military) into actual regional influence (diplomacy and networks).
• Positive Score: An Overperformer or Smart Power.
• Negative Score: An Underperformer or a state with Unrealized Potential.

Developed By:

• Organization: The Lowy Institute, an independent international policy think tank based in Sydney, Australia.
• Launch: Part of the annual Asia Power Index project (established in 2018).

Aim & Objectives:

• To show that having a large economy or military doesn’t automatically equate to geopolitical influence.
• To help nations identify where their conversion of power is failing—whether in diplomacy, trade relationships, or defense networks.

Criteria an Methodology:

• The Power Gap is calculated by comparing a country’s Comprehensive Power score against its Expected Power based on its resource base.
• It uses 131 indicators across eight thematic measures:

1. Resource-Based Measures (What a country HAS)
   • Economic Capability: GDP, technology, and global connectivity.
   • Military Capability: Spending, armed forces, and signature weapons.
   • Resilience: Internal stability, energy security, and nuclear deterrence.
   • Future Resources: Demographic dividends and economic projections for 2035.
2. Influence-Based Measures (What a country DOES)
   • Economic Relationships: Trade ties and investment leverage.
   • Defence Networks: Alliances, regional diplomacy, and arms transfers.
   • Diplomatic Influence: Global standing and foreign policy ambition.
   • Cultural Influence: Ability to shape international opinion.

India’s Ranking & The 2025-26 Scorecard:

• Top 3 ranker in Asia Power Index: USA (Rank 1^st), China (Rank 2^nd), and India (Rank 3^rd).
• In the Asia Power Index 2025, India achieved a historic milestone but remains a strategic outlier:

Strategic Significance for India:

According to the Economic Survey 2026, the negative gap is a Policy Call to Action.

1. India needs to move from being a recipient of stability to a source of stability for the region.
2. The survey suggests that India’s transition to a developed nation (Viksit Bharat) depends on embedding domestic capabilities into global production systems.
3. Despite being the 3rd most powerful nation, India ranks lower in Defense Networks (11th) and Economic Relationships (9th), indicating areas for urgent diplomatic focus.

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Government Notifies Coking Coal as Critical & Strategic Minerals

Source:  ET

Subject:  Economics/Geography

Context: The Government of India officially notified Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic Mineral under the MMDR Act, 1957, a major reform aimed at slashing the country’s 95% import dependence.

About Government Notifies Coking Coal as Critical & Strategic Minerals:

What is it?

• By notifying Coking Coal as a Critical and Strategic mineral, the government has moved it from the general Coal category into a high-priority bracket (Part D of the First Schedule).
• This grant provides the mineral special legal status, allowing for faster environmental clearances, exemption from public consultations, and the use of degraded forest land for mining.

Law Governing the Reform:

• Primary Act: Mines and Minerals (Development and Regulation) Act, 1957 (MMDR Act).
• Specific Amendment: Exercising powers under Section 11C, the Central Government amended the First Schedule.
• Fiscal Clarity: Under Section 11D(3), all royalties and auction premiums will continue to accrue to the State Governments, even if the Centre conducts the auctions.

Strategic Objectives:

• India currently imports nearly 58 million tonnes of coking coal annually. The goal is to reduce the massive foreign exchange outflow.
• Ensuring that the National Steel Policy’s target of 300 MT production by 2030 is not vulnerable to global price volatility.
• Accelerating the exploration of deep-seated deposits by inviting private sector giants with advanced technology.

About Coking Coal:

What it is?

• Coking Coal, also known as Metallurgical Coal, is a specific grade of bituminous coal. Unlike thermal coal, which is burned for electricity, coking coal is essential for steel production.
• When heated in an oxygen-free oven (carbonization), it softens, swells, and re-solidifies into a hard, porous mass called Coke.

Formation and Characteristics:

• Process: Formed over millions of years through higher pressure and heat compared to thermal coal, resulting in higher carbon content.
• Key Properties:
  • Low Ash/Sulphur: High-quality coking coal must have low impurities to maintain the structural integrity of the steel.
  • Caking Power: The unique ability to fuse into a solid mass.
  • Reducing Agent: In a blast furnace, it strips oxygen from iron ore to produce liquid iron.

India and Coking Coal:

• India is the world’s second-largest steel producer, yet it remains Coking Coal Poor despite having vast resources.
  • Domestic Resources: India possesses approximately 37 Billion Tonnes of coking coal resources.
  • Geographical Distribution:
    • Jharkhand: Holds the lion’s share of reserves (Jharia, Bokaro).
    • Others: West Bengal, Chhattisgarh, and Madhya Pradesh.
  • The Import Paradox: Despite reserves, India meets 95% of its requirements through imports (largely from Australia, Russia, and the USA).
  • This is primarily because domestic coal has high ash content and requires advanced Coal Washing (beneficiation) technology.

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Digital Food Currency

Source:  TOI

Subject:   Economics/Government scheme

Context: The Government of India is set to launch a pilot program for Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC), also termed Digital Food Currency, in February 2026.

• This initiative targets beneficiaries in Chandigarh, Puducherry, and three districts of Gujarat (Anand, Sabarmati, and Dahod) to streamline the world’s largest free food security program.

About Digital Food Currency:

What is it?

• Digital food coupons are a programmed form of e-Rupee (CBDC). Instead of physical grains or cash transfers, beneficiaries receive digital tokens specifically locked for use at authorized ration shops.
• It serves as a Proof of Concept (POC) for a larger nationwide rollout of digital currency in social welfare.

Developed By:

• Regulatory Body: Reserve Bank of India (RBI).
• Implementing Authority: Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, in coordination with the National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) and State Governments.

Aim:

• Ensuring that the subsidy is used strictly for foodgrains, preventing the diversion of funds.
• Real-time tracking of every gram of foodgrain distributed.
• Eliminating the need for repeated biometric authentication at Fair Price Shops, which often fails due to connectivity or physical wear and tear.
• Moving rural beneficiaries toward a digital-first economy through the RBI digital wallet.

How it Works?

• Direct Credit: Monthly digital food coupons are credited directly to the RBI-enabled digital wallet on the beneficiary’s mobile phone.
• Redemption: The beneficiary visits a Fair Price Shop and scans the shop owner’s QR code.
• Authentication: The digital tokens are transferred, and the beneficiary receives their entitled free foodgrains.
• Validity: The coupons have a set timeframe (e.g., 30 days) to prevent the accumulation of unspent subsidies.

Key Features:

• Geographic Focus: The pilot covers diverse regions—Chandigarh and Puducherry (urban UTs with no ration shops) and Gujarat (districts with active PDS).
• Feature Phone Support: Options are being explored for non-smartphone users to use the currency via SMS-based vouchers or offline digital solutions.
• No Biometric Hassle: Reduces reliance on e-POS biometric machines, making the process faster for senior citizens and manual laborers.
• FCI Integration: The grains distributed are supplied directly by the Food Corporation of India (FCI).

Significance:

• Replaces the expensive physical movement of cash (DBT) or grains with a more efficient digital ledger.
• India is among the first major economies to test Programmable CBDC for large-scale social welfare, positioning it as a global leader in FinTech governance.
• Unlike cash DBT, where money can be spent on non-essentials, Digital Food Currency guarantees the Right to Food.

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Western Disturbance

Source:  NDTV

Subject:  Geography

Context: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an alert for a quick succession of two Western Disturbances (WD) expected to sweep across Northwest and Central India from January 31 to February 3, 2026.

About Western Disturbance:

What is a Western Disturbance?

• A Western Disturbance (WD) is an extra-tropical storm (or low-pressure system) that originates in the Mediterranean region.
• It travels eastwards across the Middle East, Iran, Afghanistan, and Pakistan before entering the Indian subcontinent.

Origin:

• The Mediterranean Sea, often fueled by moisture from the Caspian and Black Seas.

Formation

• A high-pressure area over Europe (near Ukraine) pushes cold polar air toward the relatively warmer, moist air over the Mediterranean.
• This interaction creates an extratropical depression (a non-tropical storm).
• These storms are then pushed toward India by the Subtropical Westerly Jet Stream, a high-altitude wind current acting as a global conveyor belt.
• Upon hitting the Himalayan barrier, the moisture-laden air is forced to rise, leading to condensation and precipitation.

Impact of Western Disturbances on India:

Winter Precipitation:

• WDs are the primary source of non-monsoonal rainfall in India.
• They bring heavy snowfall to the Western Himalayas (J&K, Himachal, Uttarakhand) and light to moderate rain to the plains (Punjab, Haryana, Delhi, UP).

Agricultural Boon and Bane:

• Boon for Rabi Crops: The winter showers are essential for Wheat, Mustard, and Gram (Chana). It provides natural irrigation during the dry winter months.
• Bane for Farmers: Intense WDs can cause hailstorms and thunderstorms, which damage standing crops. The IMD has recently advised farmers to drain excess water to prevent root rot.

Temperature & Cold Waves

• Before Arrival: Night temperatures usually rise due to cloud cover trapping heat (greenhouse effect).
• After Departure: As the sky clears, cold northerly winds from the snow-clad mountains rush into the plains, leading to a sharp drop in temperature and dense fog, triggering Cold Wave conditions.

Water Security: Snowfall from WDs feeds the Himalayan glaciers, which are the source of perennial rivers like the Ganga, Yamuna, and Indus, ensuring water availability during the summer.

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Paathara (Khoni) Practice

Source:  TH

Subject:  Art and Culture

Context: The ancient Paathara (or Khoni) grain storage tradition in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district is facing imminent extinction in January 2026.

About Paathara (Khoni) Practice:

What is it?

• Paathara (referred to as Khoni in Odia) is a traditional underground grain storage pit. It is a highly scientific, indigenous method used by farmers to preserve freshly harvested paddy for long-term household consumption and rituals.

Origin:

• Geographical Hub: Observed primarily in the Uddanam region of Srikakulam (Andhra Pradesh), along the banks of the Mahendratanaya River, near the Odisha border.
• Terrain Specificity: The tradition thrives in inland, hilly terrains. It is rarely found in coastal belts because high moisture levels in seaside soil can spoil the grain.

Key Features:

• The Structure: A rectangular or circular pit is dug into the earth, usually in front of the house or cattle shed.
• Insulation: The pit is meticulously plastered with straw and clay. A base layer of hand-woven straw ropes is laid to prevent ground moisture from touching the grain.
• Sealing: Once filled with paddy, the top is sealed with a thick layer of clay and cow dung, making it airtight and pest-proof.
• Ritualistic Start: The storage process begins with a puja, where women draw a bindi on the pit and offer wildflowers and paddy grains to ensure prosperity.

Significance:

• Superior flavour and health: Paathara-stored rice is valued as aged rice, with enhanced taste and better nutrition, including a lower glycaemic index—now preferred by health-conscious consumers.
• Natural pest control and security: Its airtight underground storage protects grain from insects and rodents without chemicals, while its location near homes reduces theft.
• Zero-waste sustainability: At a time when India loses nearly 10% of food grains to poor storage, Paathara stands out as a low-cost, zero-carbon method using only local, biodegradable materials.

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The Living Root Bridges

Source:  News on Air

Subject:  History/Art and culture

Context: India officially submitted the nomination dossier for Meghalaya’s living root bridges, titled Jingkieng Jri / Lyu Chrai Cultural Landscape, to UNESCO for the 2026-27 World Heritage evaluation cycle.

About The Living Root Bridges:

What is it?

• The Living Root Bridges, locally known as Jingkieng Jri, are extraordinary pedestrian bridges handcrafted from the aerial roots of living trees.
• Unlike steel or concrete bridges, these structures are grown over decades and become stronger as the tree matures, embodying the ultimate form of sustainable bio-engineering.

Location:

• State: Meghalaya, India.
• Region: Primarily concentrated in the East Khasi Hills and West Jaintia Hills
• Villages: Notable sites include Nongriat (home to the famous Double-Decker bridge), Rewai, and Mawlynnong.

History & Origin:

• Tribal Heritage: Created by the indigenous Khasi and Jaintia
• Ancient Tradition: Due to a lack of written scripts before the 19th century, their exact age is unknown, but oral legends suggests some bridges are over 500 years old.
• Evolution: The practice emerged as a survival strategy to cross monsoon-swollen rivers in the world’s wettest region (Mawsynram/Cherrapunji), where wooden structures would simply rot away.

Key Features & Construction Process:

• The Species: The bridges are primarily grown from the Ficus elastica (Indian Rubber Tree), known for its robust and flexible aerial root system.
• Guided Growth:
  • Planting: Trees are planted on opposite banks of a river.
  • Scaffolding: Young roots are guided through hollowed-out Areca palm trunks or bamboo structures to grow across the stream.
  • Entwining: Over time, the roots are manually twisted and merged (anastomosis) to form a solid walkway.
  • Strengthening: Stones are often placed between the roots to create a flat path. A bridge takes 10 to 15 years to become functional but can last for centuries.

Significance:

• These bridges are carbon-sequestering, self-repairing, and can withstand the extreme floods and storms of the Meghalayan plateau that would destroy modern infrastructure.
• The nomination recognizes the Mei Ramew (Mother Earth) philosophy, showcasing a harmonious relationship between humans and the ecosystem.
• As the world seeks nature-based solutions to climate change, the Living Root Bridges serve as a global blueprint for regenerative architecture.

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UPSC CURRENT AFFAIRS – 30 January 2026 Mapping:

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The Shiveluch volcano

Source:  PHY

Subject:  Mapping

Context: The Shiveluch volcano, one of the most explosive in Russia, erupted twice sending massive ash columns nearly 9,000 meters (29,500 feet) into the sky.

About The Shiveluch volcano:

What is it?

• Shiveluch (also spelled Sheveluch) is a massive —a cone-shaped volcano built up by many layers of hardened lava, tephra, and volcanic ash. It is renowned for its  superhydrous magmous (water-rich) which contribute to its highly explosive nature.

Located in:

• Region: Kamchatka Peninsula, Far Eastern Federal District, Russia.
• Proximity: Approximately 450 kilometers (280 miles) north of Petropavlovsk-Kamchatsky and 50 kilometers from the nearest settlement, Klyuchi.

Origin & Age:

• Geologic Age: Estimated to be between 60,000 and 70,000 years old, dating back to the late Pleistocene epoch.
• Formation: Created by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the Okhotsk Plate, part of the geologically intense pacific ring of asia.

Key Features:

• Structure: Composed of three main elements: the Old Shiveluch (extinct), an ancient caldera, and the Young Shiveluch (the currently active peak).
• Elevation: Reaches a peak height of 3,283 meters (10,771 feet).
• Activity Level: It is the northernmost active  volcano and has experienced at least 60 major eruptions in the last 10,000 years, remaining in a state of near-continuous eruption since 1999.

Strategic Significance:

• : Shiveluch forms part of the Volcanoes of Kamchatka UNESCO site (1996), noted for its dramatic landscape shaped by active volcanoes and glaciers.
• Global aviation relevance: Located under major air routes, Shiveluch eruptions threaten aviation safety as volcanic ash can damage jet engines.
• Scientific importance: Its water-rich magmas help scientists understand subduction-zone volcanism and the role of volcanoes in the global water cycle.

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