UPSC Daily Current Affairs| One Liners 31-01-2026

One Liners 31-01-2026

History, Art and Culture

Smithsonian Returns Bronzes

• Announced by – Smithsonian’s National Museum of Asian Art, United States.
• 3 sculptures —
  • Nataraja – Chola-period sculptures from 10^th Century.
  • Somaskanda – Chola-period sculptures dating to the 12th century, from the Vishwanatha Swamy Temple at Alathur village in Thiruvarur district.
  • Saint Sundarar with Paravai – From the Vijayanagara period (16^th Century) exemplify the rich artistry of South Indian bronze casting.
• Significance – It marks a milestone in the international recovery of India’s stolen cultural heritage.
• It stands as a clear validation of the Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT)-based recovery strategy pursued by the Tamil Nadu Idol Wing [-CID].

GI Tagged Product – Kaladi

Kaladi adapted for diverse recipes, retaining its authentic flavour, texture, and nutrition.

• Kaladi – It is GI-tagged traditional dairy product of Udhampur district, Jammu & Kashmir.
• Advantage –
  • To fetch better returns for farmers and artisanal producers.
  • To showcase the richness of Dogra cuisine on national and global platforms.
• Significance – It aligns with the Government’s vision of linking science, technology, and traditional products to strengthen local economies.

Environment

Lucknow – UP’s First Zero Fresh Waste Dump City

• It achieved 100% scientific processing of municipal solid waste under the Swachh Bharat Mission-Urban.
• Shivari Solid Waste Management Plant – It has a processing capacity of 700 metric tonnes per day.
• Door-to-door waste collection efficiency – It has improved to 96.53%, and source segregation levels are above 70%.

3^rd Edition of ‘Sujal Gram Samvad’

• Organised by – Department of Drinking Water & Sanitation (DDWS), Ministry of Jal Shakti.
• Objective – To strengthen village‑level drinking water governance.
• Highlighted key areas –
  • 73rd Constitutional Amendment – Responsibility of drinking water supply rests with Gram Panchayats.
  • Jal Arpan – It ensures formal evaluation, commissioning, and handover of water supply schemes to Gram Panchayats along with necessary technical handholding.
  • Lok Jal Utsav – To carry out a comprehensive review of schemes and ensure timely operation and maintenance.
  • Jal Seva Aankalan - A transformative initiative, wherein villagers, along with Gram Panchayats, assess water quantity, quality, and service levels through Gram Sabhas.
• Significance – It reinforces participatory water governance and community-led implementation of Jal Jeevan Mission (JJM).

Water Bankruptcy: Living Beyond Our Hydrological Means in the Post-Crisis Era

• Report released by – United Nations University Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH).
• Key points –
  • Climate change alters rainfall patterns due to rising temperatures.
  • Glacial retreat causes erratic river flows creating "whiplashes" (floods then droughts)
  • Pollution and overuse drive regions toward “water bankruptcy.”
  • Himalayan states face snow droughts in winter (Uttarakhand, Himachal, J&K).
  • Unpredictable precipitation disrupts farming, hydropower, and river flow timing.

Security

22^nd Subroto Mukerjee International Seminar

• Organised by – Centre for Aerospace Power and Strategic Studies (CAPSS).
• Commemoration to – Air Mshl Subroto Mukerjee, the 1^st Indian Chief of the Air Staff and one of the visionary founders of the Indian Air Force.
• Theme – 'National Security Imperatives'.
• Aim – To provide a platform for dialogue and intellectual engagement on the evolving nature of the global and regional security threats and opportunities.

Science

AI in Education and Skilling Ecosystems

• Collaboration between – Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship (MSDE), Google Cloud and Chaudhary Charan Singh University (CCSU), Meerut.
• CCSU as India’s first AI-enabled state university pilot.
• Significance – It is a strategic step towards operationalising the Prime Minister’s vision of a technology-powered Viksit Bharat 2047.

Airborne Pathogens in Hilly Region

• Studied by – Bose Institute, an autonomous institute of the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
• Key highlights –
  • Dust storms travel hundreds of kilometres, crossing the Indo-Gangetic Plain before settling over Himalayan hilltops.
  • Airborne pathogens in desert dust plumes move from Western India to the Eastern Himalayas, causing respiratory and skin diseases.
  • The dust reshapes Himalayan bacterial communities, contributing to gastrointestinal infections.
• Significance – To strengthen national action plans for human health and development of health forecast systems aligned with the vision of Viksit Bharat @ 2047.

Electricity Distribution Industry Conference (EDICON) 2026

• Held in – New Delhi.
• Organized by – All India Discoms Association with Ministry of Power.
• Objective – To enable constructive dialogue among key stakeholders to identify action areas for improving DISCOM performance.

AI Smart Glasses for Police

Delhi Police deploying AI-powered smart glasses with integrated facial recognition for crowd monitoring during Republic Day 2026.

• Technology
  • Glasses equipped with mini-CCTV cameras scan criminal databases.
  • System matches faces and uses thermal aging to update old photos.
  • AznaLens collaborates with Delhi Police on extended reality solutions.
  • Real-time suspect alerts appear on officers’ screens.
• Benefits
  • Enables quick identification of criminals in crowded places.
  • Provides instant updates on wanted individuals.
  • Cuts down the need for manual checks.
• Concerns
  • Raises risks of privacy violations and mass surveillance.
  • Potential for errors and false matches.
  • No established legal framework for facial recognition.
  • Vulnerable to data breaches and misuse.