Current Affairs for 06 January 2026

Nashik-Solapur-Akalkot Greenfield Corridor

Context

Recently, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA), chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, approved the construction of a six-lane greenfield corridor connecting Nashik, Solapur, and Akkalkot in Maharashtra at a total cost of ₹19,142 crore.

Project Structure and Model

• This approximately 374-km-long corridor will be developed under the Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) toll model. The project is part of the Pradhan Mantri GatiShakti National Master Plan.
• It aims to improve regional and inter-state connectivity while strengthening India's integrated transport infrastructure under the Pradhan Mantri GatiShakti National Master Plan.

Route and Connectivity

• The proposed corridor will connect Kurnool to major regional centers such as Nashik, Ahilyanagar, and Solapur. It is planned to connect it to several important national highways and expressways, including:
  • Delhi-Mumbai Expressway near the Wadhawan Port Interchange
  • Agra-Mumbai Corridor in Nashik
  • Samruddhi Mahamarg near Pangri
• Upon completion, the project will ensure seamless connectivity between India's western and eastern coasts.

Impact on Travel Time and Logistics Efficiency

• According to government estimates, the construction of this corridor will significantly reduce travel time. The current journey time of approximately 31 hours will be reduced to 17 hours, a reduction of approximately 45%. This will also reduce travel distance by approximately 201 kilometers.
• This will improve freight and logistics efficiency, especially for National Industrial Corridor Development Corporation (NICDC)-linked hubs like Kopparthi and Orvakal.

Employment Generation

• In terms of employment generation, the project is estimated to generate approximately 25.1 million man-days of direct employment and approximately 31.4 million man-days of indirect employment.
• Additionally, additional employment opportunities are expected to be created through increased economic activity along the corridor.

Other Facts

• The Nashik-Talegaon Dighe section of the project will also complement the Pune-Nashik Expressway, which has been identified by the NICDC and is being implemented by the Maharashtra government.
• Designed as a high-speed and controlled corridor, the highway will be able to accommodate an average vehicle speed of 60 kmph, compared to its design speed of 100 kmph. per hour.
• The project is expected to reduce traffic congestion, improve road safety, reduce operating costs, and ensure seamless movement of passenger and freight traffic.
• The corridor is also expected to contribute to regional economic development by improving infrastructure in Nashik, Ahilyanagar, Dharamshala, and Solapur districts.

PathGennie

Context

Recently, the Ministry of Science and Technology has developed a new open-source software called PathGennie, which is being considered a significant advancement in the field of drug discovery and molecular simulation.

What is PathGennie ?

• PathGennie is an advanced computational framework developed by scientists designed for fast and accurate simulation of rare molecular events. Its primary objective is to make the drug discovery process more efficient and timely.
• This software specifically focuses on tracking molecular unbinding pathways, which helps understand how and over what time a drug molecule dissociates from its target protein.

Its Role in Molecular Simulation

• PathGennie addresses a long-standing challenge in molecular simulation: accurately modeling how drug molecules dissociate from their target proteins.
• This process, called 'ligand unbinding,' is crucial in determining a drug's residence time. In many cases, this residence time is considered a better indicator of a drug's therapeutic efficacy than binding strength alone.
• The software predicts the behavior of potential drugs without the artificial distortions or external forces used in standard simulation methods.

Key Features of PathGennie

• Accurate simulation of rare molecular events without artificial acceleration
• Simultaneous generation of multiple competing unbinding pathways
• Realistic estimation of the residence time of drug molecules
• Elimination of biases arising from external force-based simulations

Potential Applications

The use of PathGennie is not limited to drug discovery. Its potential applications include:

• Study of chemical reactions and catalytic processes
• Analysis of complex processes such as phase transitions and self-assembly
• Compatibility with modern machine learning techniques, allowing it to be easily integrated into various simulation pipelines.

Expanding the Terror Lens: Supreme Court on UAPA, Bail and ‘Terrorist Acts’

Why in News ?

The Supreme Court of India granted bail to five accused in the 2020 Northeast Delhi riots case but denied bail to Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, holding that all accused did not stand on equal footing despite facing similar charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The ruling is significant not only for its bail outcome but for its expansive interpretation of “terrorist act” under UAPA, the creation of a hierarchy of culpability, and its clarification on the limits of prolonged pre-trial incarceration under anti-terror laws.

Hierarchy of Roles in the Alleged Conspiracy

Individualised Assessment of Culpability

The Supreme Court rejected a blanket approach to culpability and emphasised that each accused must be assessed based on their role within the alleged conspiracy.

The Court introduced a graded or hierarchical framework of responsibility, distinguishing between:

• Principal planners, and
• Peripheral or facilitative actors

Principal Accused: Alleged Masterminds

In the case of Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, the Court accepted the prosecution’s claim that they occupied a central and directive role.

They were described as:

• “Ideological drivers”
• “Masterminds” involved in
  • Conceptualisation
  • Direction
  • Orchestration
  • Mobilisation

The Court held that they allegedly planned coordinated disruptions, including chakka jams, intended to paralyse civic life and escalate protests into mass disorder.

Co-Accused Granted Bail: Peripheral Roles

The five accused granted bail were characterised as:

• Local-level facilitators
• Site-specific executors

Their roles were deemed derivative, lacking autonomy or strategic control over the alleged conspiracy.

Since the investigation was complete and trial delays were substantial, continued incarceration of such accused was considered disproportionate and punitive.

How the Law Defines a ‘Terrorist Act’ ?

Statutory Definition under UAPA

Section 15 of the UAPA defines a terrorist act as one committed with intent to:

• Threaten India’s unity, integrity, security, or sovereignty, or
• Strike terror among the people

It lists specific violent means (explosives, firearms, etc.) and includes a broad residual clause — “or any other means.”

Prosecution’s Argument

The prosecution argued that planned, synchronised road blockades choking arterial roads could fall under “any other means”, even without conventional weapons, because of their intended impact, scale, and consequences.

Defence’s Stand: Protest Is Not Terror

The defence argued that:

• Road blockades are a recognised form of democratic protest
• “Any other means” must be read narrowly, limited to violent instruments

Supreme Court’s Interpretation

The Court rejected a narrow reading and held that:

• The weapon is not decisive; intent, design, coordination, and effect are crucial
• Systematic disruption of civic life, if strategically planned, may amount to a terrorist act
• Timing such acts with international events (e.g., Donald Trump’s visit in 2020) strengthens prima facie inference of intent

This marks a broadened judicial understanding of terrorism, extending beyond traditional violence to include calibrated mass disruption.

Bail Restrictions under Section 43D(5) of UAPA

Section 43D(5) bars bail if accusations appear prima facie true.

• The Court found sufficient prima facie material (witness statements, chats, meeting records) against Khalid and Sharjeel Imam
• Hence, the statutory bar on bail applied fully

For the co-accused with limited roles, the bar was held not to operate with equal force.

Prolonged Incarceration and the Bail Question

Argument Based on Article 21

All accused highlighted:

• Continuous custody since 2020
• Trial still at the charge-framing stage

They relied on Union of India v. K.A. Najeeb (2021), where the Supreme Court held that constitutional courts may grant bail under UAPA to prevent violation of Article 21 if trials are indefinitely delayed.

Supreme Court’s Clarification on K.A. Najeeb

The Court clarified that:

• K.A. Najeeb is not a mechanical rule
• Delay is a trigger for scrutiny, not an automatic override of statutory bail bars

Given:

• Over 1,000 documents
• 835 witnesses
• Defence-raised procedural objections

The delay could not be attributed solely to the prosecution.

Balancing Liberty and Security

• For alleged masterminds: gravity of offence outweighed delay
• For facilitators: continued custody became punitive

Thus, bail was granted selectively.

Wider Legal and Constitutional Implications

• Sets precedent for hierarchical culpability in conspiracy cases
• Expands the scope of what may constitute terrorism
• Reinforces judicial deference to legislative intent in anti-terror laws
• Raises concerns about criminalisation of protest and chilling effect on dissent

Greenland in the Crosshairs: Trump’s Arctic Push and the Limits of Power

Why in News ? 

Denmark and Greenland have strongly rejected US President Donald Trump’s assertion that the United States needs Greenland “for defence”, calling any attempt to annex or purchase the island unacceptable and absurd.

The sharp response follows renewed US signalling—including provocative maps and statements—suggesting strategic interest in taking control of the Arctic island, escalating tensions over sovereignty, Arctic security, and international law.

Why the US Wants Greenland: Strategic and Resource Interests

Geostrategic Location

Greenland occupies a critical position between North America, Europe, and the Arctic, making it strategically invaluable.

• The US operates the Pituffik Space Base (earlier Thule Air Base), a cornerstone of:
  • Missile early-warning systems
  • Space surveillance
  • NATO’s northern defence architecture

Its location allows monitoring of potential threats from Russia, China, and North Korea, reinforcing US global defence posture.

Arctic Power Competition

• Melting Arctic ice is opening:
  • New shipping routes
  • Strategic maritime corridors
  • Military operating zones
• As Russia expands Arctic military bases and China declares itself a “near-Arctic state”, Greenland’s importance has surged as a geopolitical asset in emerging Arctic rivalry.

Critical Minerals and Supply Chains

• Greenland possesses substantial rare earth mineral reserves, essential for:
  • Electric vehicles
  • Defence technologies
  • Renewable energy systems
• With China dominating global rare-earth supply chains, the US views Greenland as a strategic alternative.
• However, Greenland’s 2021 ban on uranium mining complicates large-scale mineral extraction, reflecting local environmental and political concerns.

A Longstanding US Interest in Greenland

US interest in Greenland is not new:

• 1867: The US State Department identified Greenland’s strategic value soon after the Alaska purchase.
• World War II: The US established control over Greenland following Nazi occupation of Denmark.
• 1946: President Harry S Truman offered $100 million to Denmark to buy Greenland and even explored territorial exchanges involving Alaska.
• 1951 Defence Agreement: Allowed permanent US military presence in Greenland.
• 2019: Donald Trump publicly proposed purchasing Greenland, framing it as a real-estate deal.
  • Denmark rejected the idea.
  • Trump cancelled a state visit, triggering diplomatic fallout.

Why Denmark and Greenland Are Wary of Trump ?

Sovereignty and Intervention Fears

• Concerns intensified after Trump’s actions in Venezuela, including the capture of President Nicolás Maduro, raising fears of coercive intervention.
• Greenland, though autonomous, remains part of the Danish Kingdom, making sovereignty issues extremely sensitive.

Alleged Three-Phase Strategy

According to a Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) report, the Trump administration allegedly pursued a three-phase approach:

1. Charm Offensive – High-profile outreach, including visits by Trump family members
2. Direct Pressure – Senior US leaders criticising Denmark’s governance of Greenland
3. Influence Operations – Attempts to encourage local secessionist sentiment

Denmark has accused Washington of undermining Greenland’s political stability.

Has the US Bought Territories in the Past ?

Yes, the US has expanded through purchases, but under vastly different historical conditions:

• Louisiana Purchase (1803): Bought from France for $15 million, doubling US territory.
• Alaska Purchase (1867): Acquired from Russia for $7.2 million; became a state in 1959.
• Danish West Indies (1917): Purchased from Denmark; now the US Virgin Islands.

However, modern international law prohibits territorial acquisition by coercion or force, making Greenland fundamentally different.

Strategic and Legal Implications

• Trump’s statements challenge:
  • The UN Charter
  • Principles of sovereignty and self-determination
• The episode exposes rising Arctic militarisation and great-power competition.
• It risks destabilising NATO unity, as Denmark is a NATO ally.

Way Forward

• Strengthening Arctic governance through multilateral forums
• Respecting international law and sovereignty
• Cooperative resource development instead of coercive geopolitics
• Addressing Arctic security through diplomacy rather than unilateralism
  

Power from Flow: Hydrokinetic Turbine Technology and India’s Renewable Push

Why in News ?

In a major step towards expanding renewable energy and ensuring 24×7 electricity supply, the Tripura government has identified 10 river sites to generate about 185 MW of power using Hydrokinetic Turbine Technology. The initiative reflects India’s growing focus on innovative, low-impact renewable energy solutions.

What is Hydrokinetic Turbine Technology ?

Hydrokinetic turbine technology is an emerging form of hydropower generation that harnesses the kinetic energy of flowing water—such as rivers, canals, and tidal streams—to produce electricity.

Unlike conventional hydropower plants, hydrokinetic systems:

• Do not require dams, barrages, or diversion structures
• Operate with practically zero water head
• Are installed directly in the river channel

Electricity is generated as the natural movement of water rotates turbine blades, converting kinetic energy into electrical energy.

How Hydrokinetic Systems Differ from Conventional Hydropower

This makes hydrokinetic technology particularly suitable for ecologically sensitive regions.

Key Benefits of Hydrokinetic Turbines

Renewable and Clean Energy Source

• Utilises the continuous flow of water, reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
• Helps diversify the renewable energy mix beyond solar and wind.

Minimal Environmental Impact

• Operates with natural river flow.
• Avoids large-scale submergence and displacement.
• Preserves aquatic ecosystems and river morphology.

Scalable and Flexible Deployment

• Suitable for:
  • Small off-grid and rural electrification projects
  • Larger multi-turbine arrays for grid supply
• Can be deployed in rivers, canals, and irrigation channels.

Lower Maintenance Requirements

• Fewer moving parts compared to large hydro systems.
• Designed with debris protection mechanisms.
• Leads to lower operation and maintenance costs.

Significance for India’s Energy Transition

• Energy Security: Supports decentralised and continuous power generation, especially in remote areas.
• Climate Goals: Aligns with India’s commitment to increasing non-fossil fuel energy capacity.
• River-Friendly Development: Offers a solution that balances development with ecological protection.
• Regional Development: Particularly useful for hilly and river-rich states like Tripura and other northeastern regions.

Challenges and Limitations

• Lower power output per unit compared to large dams
• Dependence on consistent river flow velocity
• Initial costs and limited commercial-scale deployment experience
• Need for site-specific studies and regulatory clearances

Way Forward

• Promote pilot projects and demonstration plants
• Encourage public–private partnerships in river-based renewables
• Integrate hydrokinetic power with solar and wind for hybrid systems
• Develop clear guidelines for environmental assessment and navigation safety
• Support indigenous R&D to reduce costs and improve efficiency

India’s Marine Export Momentum: Diversification Driving Resilience

Why in News ?

India’s seafood exports recorded strong growth in FY 2025–26 despite higher tariffs imposed by the United States, signalling a successful shift towards market diversification and enhanced export resilience.

India’s Seafood Sector: Scale and Significance

India possesses one of the world’s most diverse seafood sectors, supported by:

• A 7,500 km-long coastline
• Extensive inland water resources including rivers, reservoirs, ponds, and wetlands
• A rapidly expanding aquaculture ecosystem

The sector plays a vital role in:

• Employment generation, especially in coastal and rural areas
• Foreign exchange earnings
• Nutritional security and livelihoods

Production and Resource Base

• India is the 3rd largest fish producer globally and the 2nd largest aquaculture producer.
• Marine fisheries dominate coastal regions along both eastern and western seaboards.
• Inland fisheries and aquaculture, particularly shrimp farming, have emerged as the primary drivers of export growth.

Aquaculture-led production has helped India stabilise supply, improve quality control, and meet global demand consistently.

Export Composition

• Shrimp constitutes the single largest share of India’s seafood exports, with frozen Vannamei shrimp dominating value and volume.
• Other export products include:
  • Frozen fish
  • Squid and cuttlefish
  • Crabs and other crustaceans
  • Value-added marine products

Improved cold-chain infrastructure and adherence to international food safety standards have strengthened India’s export competitiveness.

Major Export Markets

Traditionally, India’s top seafood export destinations have been:

• United States
• China
• Japan
• European Union
• Southeast Asian countries

However, policy and industry efforts in recent years have focused on reducing over-dependence on a single market, especially the U.S.

Institutional and Policy Support

• Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) plays a central role in:
  • Export promotion
  • Quality certification and traceability
  • Market access facilitation
• Government initiatives such as Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) have strengthened:
  • Fisheries infrastructure
  • Processing and cold storage capacity
  • Sustainability and disease control

News Summary: Export Performance in FY 2025–26

• During April–October FY 2025–26:
  • Export value rose by 16%, from $4.19 billion to $4.87 billion
  • Export volume increased by 12%, from 9.62 lakh MT to 10.73 lakh MT
  • This growth occurred despite higher U.S. tariffs, which led to a marginal decline in exports to the American market.
• Exporters offset this contraction by expanding shipments to:
  • China
  • Vietnam
  • Belgium
  • Malaysia
  • Germany
• Exports to China reached $845.67 million, reinforcing its growing importance.
• Vietnam emerged as a standout destination:
  • Over 100% growth in export value
  • Over 90% growth in export volume
• Belgium recorded nearly 90% growth, highlighting Europe’s rising role.

This trend reflects a clear eastward and European pivot in India’s seafood export strategy.

Sign of Sectoral Resilience

• Regular consultations between exporters, MPEDA, and ministries of Fisheries and Commerce have:
  • Identified new markets
  • Addressed non-tariff barriers
• Strengthened compliance with importing-country standards
• Officials have described the sector’s performance as a reflection of:
  • Improved competitiveness
  • Adaptive capacity
  • Reduced vulnerability to single-market shocks

Despite diversification, the U.S. remains India’s largest individual seafood market, underscoring the need to balance diversification with retention.

Analysis: Why This Matters

• Demonstrates the success of export diversification as a risk-mitigation strategy
• Strengthens India’s position in global seafood value chains
• Aligns with the broader Blue Economy vision
• Enhances resilience against tariff shocks and geopolitical trade disruptions

Way Forward

• Expand access to emerging markets in Africa, Latin America, and West Asia
• Promote value-added and ready-to-eat seafood products
• Strengthen sustainability, traceability, and disease management
• Enhance branding of Indian seafood globally
• Support small-scale fishers and exporters in meeting compliance costs

A Decade of the Paris Agreement: Progress Made, Gaps Exposed

Why in News ?

The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015 under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), completed ten years in November 2025, prompting a global assessment of its effectiveness, ambition, and equity in addressing climate change.

Paris Agreement: Concept and Working

About the Agreement

• The Paris Agreement is a legally binding international climate treaty, adopted at COP21 (Paris, 2015).
• It replaced the Kyoto Protocol, extending climate responsibility to all countries, not just developed ones.

Core Objective

• Limit global temperature rise to well below 2°C, while pursuing efforts to cap warming at 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels.

Working Mechanism

• Operates on a five-year ambition cycle:
  • Countries submit Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) every five years.
  • NDCs cover mitigation, adaptation, and means of implementation.
• The Global Stocktake (first completed at COP28, 2023) assesses collective progress and calls for course correction.
• The Paris Rulebook, finalised at COP24 and COP26, provides transparency and reporting guidelines.

Key Achievements After a Decade

Universal Participation

• Nearly 194 countries plus the European Union are parties, making it the most inclusive climate agreement to date.

Mainstreaming Climate Action

• Climate goals integrated into:
  • National policies and budgets
  • Development plans (e.g., EU Green Deal, India’s Mission LiFE)

Climate Finance Commitments

• Developed countries committed to mobilising USD 100 billion annually till 2025.
• At COP29 (2024), a New Collective Quantified Goal (NCQG) of USD 300 billion per year by 2035 was agreed.

Equity and CBDR

• Reinforced the principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR), recognising historical emissions and varying national capacities.

Growth of Climate Markets

• Expansion of green bonds, carbon markets, and clean energy investments, though financing remains inadequate.

India and the Paris Agreement

India’s Commitments

• India submitted its INDC in 2015, later adopted as its first NDC.
• Updated NDC includes:
  • 45% reduction in emissions intensity of GDP (from 2005 levels) by 2030
  • 50% non-fossil electricity capacity by 2030
  • Creation of 2.5–3 billion tonnes CO₂-equivalent carbon sink
  • Promotion of sustainable lifestyles through Mission LiFE

Achievements

• Achieved 50% non-fossil electricity capacity in 2025, ahead of target.
• Announced Net Zero by 2070 at COP26.
• Global leadership via:
  • International Solar Alliance (ISA)
  • Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI)
  • Green hydrogen and solar manufacturing

Concerns and Criticisms of the Paris Agreement

Voluntary Nature of NDCs

• Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, emissions targets are non-binding, weakening accountability.

Equity Deficit

• Uniform expectations dilute CBDR.
• LDCs and SIDS face existential threats without adequate support.

Climate Finance Gap

• India and Global South countries rejected the USD 300 billion NCQG as insufficient.
• Developing countries demand USD 1.3 trillion annually, with a significant grant component.

Mitigation-Centric Bias

• Overemphasis on emissions reduction sidelines adaptation and resilience, critical for vulnerable nations.

Development Constraints

• Measures like carbon border taxes (CBAM) restrict policy space for developing economies.

Insufficient Global Ambition

• Current NDCs place the world on a 2.5–2.9°C warming trajectory, far from the 1.5°C goal.

Measures Needed to Strengthen Climate Action

• From Voluntary to Enforceable Action: Introduce legally backed national climate policies with sector-wise carbon budgets.
• Balance Mitigation and Adaptation: Increase investment in climate-resilient infrastructure, agriculture, and disaster preparedness.
• Bridge the Climate Finance Gap: Scale up predictable finance, reform multilateral banks, and expand blended finance mechanisms.
• Reinforce Equity and Climate Justice: Operationalise CBDR-RC and ensure fairness in trade-related climate measures.
• Accelerate Technology Access: Promote technology transfer, patent pooling, and South–South cooperation.

China’s Model of Climate Action

• Follows a development-first approach, allowing emissions growth during industrialisation.
• Simultaneously built large-scale renewable and clean technology capacity.
• Committed to:
  • Emissions peak before 2030
  • Net Zero by 2060
• Demonstrates how early clean-energy investment enables faster decarbonisation later.