UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 24-01-2026

One Liners 24-01-2026

History, Art and Culture

Ponduru Khadi receives GI Tag

Ponduru Khadi of Andhra Pradesh has been granted the Geographical Indication (GI) tag, with the registration.

Ponduru Khadi is a traditional hand-woven cotton fabric produced in Ponduru village of Srikakulam district in Andhra Pradesh, locally known as Patnulu.
It is known for its exceptionally high yarn count of around 100–120, reflecting its superior fineness and quality.
The fabric is made using Hill cotton, Punasa cotton, and Red cotton grown in the same region.
The entire process of cleaning, spinning, and weaving is carried out manually, preserving centuries-old artisanal skills.
Distinctive features – Use of the jawbone of the Valuga fish for cleaning cotton, a practice not found anywhere else in the world.

Polity & Governance

Electronic Personnel Licence (EPL) services for Airline Transport Pilot Licence (ATPL)

It is a secure digital licence incorporating ICAO-aligned security features.
Launched By – Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).
Accessed through – eGCA mobile application.
Objective – To ensure authenticity, prevent tampering, and enable real-time verification.

6^th ASEAN–India Digital Ministers’ (ADGMIN) Meeting

ADGMIN – It is an annual forum of Telecom and Digital Ministers.
Participants – 11 ASEAN member states such as Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR, Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Timor Leste and Viet Nam along with ASEAN’s Dialogue Partners.
Acknowledgement – The adoption of the ASEAN–India Joint Statement on Advancing Digital Transformation at the 21st ASEAN-India Summit.
Objective – To strengthen regional digital cooperation, with a focus on digital inclusion and integration.

Economy

National Conference on Strategic Trade Controls (NCSTC) 2026

Organized by – Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT).
Collaboration with – Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), and other Government partners and industry stakeholders.
Objective – To facilitate legitimate high-technology trade and address proliferation risks among stakeholders.

Agriculture

Rice - A Water-Intensive Crop

Reasons –
- The rice plant needs CO₂ inside the leaf for photosynthesis.
- CO₂ enters primarily through open stomata, but the same open pores also allow water vapour to leave.
- Rice is a C3 plant, and C3 photosynthesis is less water-efficient in hot or dry conditions than C4 (e.g. maize).
- In C3 plants, the main CO₂-fixing enzyme sometimes reacts with oxygen instead of CO₂.
- To keep photosynthesis going, C3 leaves often need to keep stomata open enough to sustain internal CO₂ levels, which increases transpiration.
- Rice survives in oxygen-poor flooded soils by develops air-filled channels that transport oxygen from shoots to roots.

Science

Virtual Reality (VR) Theatre

A Virtual Reality Theatre is a specialized room equipped with an immersive display system.
- The experiences are typically computer-generated in real time.
Inaugurated by – National Science Centre, in New Delhi.
Aim – To engage viewers visually and sometimes audibly in virtual experiences.

Madhya Pradesh Regional AI Impact Conference 2026

Organised by – IndiaAI Mission, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) and Government of Madhya Pradesh.
Part of – 8 Regional AI Impact Conferences being organised across the country as precursors to the India AI Impact Summit 2026.
Focused on – “Technology-Led Governance for All”, “Al for Economic Growth & Social Good”, and “Resilience, Innovation & Efficiency”.
Significance – It aligns state-level initiatives with the IndiaAI Mission's national ambitions.

Unauthorized Sale of Walkie-Talkies

Over 16,970 non-compliant walkie‑talkie listings were identified across platforms, and notices were issued to 13 e‑commerce entities.

Issued by – Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA).
Wrongly advertised as – “license-free” or “100% legal,” even though their use requires government approval.
Sale, import and use of walkie-talkies in India are regulated under –
- The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy Act, 1933
- The Use of Low Power and Very Low Power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018.
- Exception – only walkie-talkies operating strictly within the 446.0–446.2 MHz frequency band are exempted from licensing.
Misleading advertisement, unfair trade practice and deficiency in service under –
- Consumer Protection Act, 2019, and violates the Consumer Protection (E-Commerce) Rules, 2020.

Miscellaneous

National Startup Day

Prime Minister participated in a programme marking a decade of the Startup India initiative.

Observed on – 16^th January
Commemoration to – The 10th anniversary of the launch of StartUp India.
Aim – To recognize the innovative spirit and entrepreneurial drive of youth shaping India’s startup success.

Startup India

It is a transformative national programme aimed at nurturing innovation, promoting entrepreneurship and enabling investment-driven growth.
Launched on – 16^th January 2016, by Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
Objective – To make India a nation of job creators rather than job seekers.