The National Biodiversity Authority (NBA) continues to advance India’s commitment to the sustainable use of biological resources and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from their utilisation.
In furtherance of its mandate under the Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) framework, the NBA has disbursed Rs 17 lakh to the Biodiversity Management Committee (BMC) of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Maharashtra, through the Maharashtra State Biodiversity Board.
The disbursement stems from the successful commercial utilisation of soil micro-organisms belonging to the Bacillus genus. These micro-organisms have been utilised for the development of value-added probiotic products, reflecting an effective linkage between biodiversity conservation and modern biotechnology.
Maharashtra continues to be the second major beneficiary State in ABS releases, next only to Andhra Pradesh. The State has received the highest share of ABS disbursements, excluding benefit-sharing amounts released from the access of Red Sanders wood.
With the present release, the total ABS support extended to Maharashtra has reached nearly Rs 8 crore, benefiting over 200 Biodiversity Management Committees and seven institutions across the State.
The cumulative ABS disbursements at the national level have crossed a significant milestone of Rs 144.37 crore (around USD 16 million).
The Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry and Dairying, Government of India, has approved the proposal of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration for the “Development of Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour at Mayabunder” at an estimated cost of Rs. 199.24 crore with 100% Central Financial Assistance,
under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY).
The Smart and Integrated Fishing Harbour, developed in line with the Blue Port Initiative, will incorporate safe landing and berthing facilities, supported by latest technology and IoT-enabled systems.
The Department of Posts (DoP), Ministry of Communications, Government of India, signed an agreement with Stock Holding Services Limited (SSL) on 27 January 2026 at Dak Bhawan, New Delhi, to promote access to regulated capital market services for citizens across the country.
Under the Agreement, citizens will be enabled to access SSL’s services through digital utilities such as onboarding links and QR codes made available through official platforms and at selected post office locations. The services include opening of demat and trading accounts, mutual fund investments, participation in IPOs, and other permitted investment products.
NITI Aayog has partnered with NIIT Foundation to achieve 100% coverage in digital literacy, financial inclusion and employability across select Aspirational Blocks through targeted interventions.
The partnership aims to achieve 100% block-level coverage, reach approximately 1.2 lakh beneficiaries, and ensure at least 40% participation by women, aligning with the government’s broader focus on inclusive and sustainable development.
GAIL (India) said that along with Kawasaki Kisen Kaisha (K LINE) and J M Baxi Marine Services, the state-run firm has signed a term sheet for equity participation in the ship-owning company established in Singapore.
GAIL has signed a long-term charter with the ship-owning company starting from 2027. The LNG vessel is currently under construction in a Korean Shipyard.
The gas utility’s investment in the ship-owning company, subject to approval of DIPAM, is planned through its wholly owned subsidiary company—GAIL Global IFSC, which is registered in GIFT City, Gujarat.
GAIL and MOL share a long-standing business partnership, and this collaboration further strengthens cooperation in LNG shipping and energy logistics.
Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar has died in a plane crash at Maharashtra’s Baramati. The Civil Aviation Ministry informed that a Learjet 45 (VT-SSK) aircraft, operated by VSR, crash-landed at Baramati airport. The Ministry added that there were five personnel on board, including the Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister, two more person and two crew members.
Following this tragic incident, the state government has declared a state mourning of 3 days. Spanning a career of almost four decades, Ajit Pawar was Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra six times. He handled various ministries, including the Finance portfolio and presented the state budget 11 times.
He was actively associated with several institutions and organisations in the cooperative and sports sectors in the state.
He served as the Chairman of the Pune District Central Cooperative Bank for 16 years.
He was also the long-serving President of the Maharashtra State Olympic Association, Maharashtra Kho-Kho and Kabaddi Association. Condolences continue to pour in for Maharashtra’s ‘Dada’, known for his outright speaking style, timeliness, strong hold over governance and close connection with the people.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma officially launched the Mukhya Mantrir Eti Koli Duti Paat scheme on January 25, 2026, during a ceremony at Doomdooma in Tinsukia district. The initiative commemorates the 200th anniversary of the Assam tea industry.
Financial Assistance: Every eligible tea garden worker—both permanent and casual—is receiving a one-time grant of ₹5,000.
Beneficiaries: The scheme covers over 6 lakh tea garden workers across 836 tea gardens in 27 districts.
Budget: The state government has allocated approximately ₹302 crore for this welfare initiative.
Disbursement: Payments are being made via direct bank transfer to Aadhaar-linked bank accounts to ensure transparency and financial inclusion.
Alongside the financial aid, the Chief Minister introduced several other benefits for the tea tribe community:
Education: Plans to establish 100 more high schools in tea garden regions, adding to the 120 already built.
Job Reservation: A new 3% reservation for tea tribes in Grade I and Grade II government positions, expanding the existing reservation for Grade III and IV posts.
Land Rights: The government will begin distributing application forms in early February to grant land titles (pattas) to workers living in labour lines.
Veteran Indian sports administrator Randhir Singh’s tenure as Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) President came to a premature end today due to health reasons. OCA members elected Sheikh Joaan bin Hamad Al Thani as their president during the General Assembly in Tashkent.
In September 2024, Randhir became the first Indian to be elected as OCA president for a four-year term till 2028 during the 44th General Assembly of the OCA in New Delhi. The OCA presidency at this juncture will be significant as the Asian Games will be held in Japan later this year.
Mark Tully, who passed away at a private hospital in Delhi on January 25, 2026, aged 90, once said that working at the BBC for decades had made him a household name in South Asia, but had also quietly changed his way of writing.
Tully served as the BBC’s Chief of Bureau in India for 22 years.
After ending his stint with the radio, he turned to documentary filmmaking and authored multiple books on India. Knighted in 2002 and awarded the Padma Bhushan in 2005, Sir Mark was a familiar face in the Press Club of India and India International Centre—always available for a quick conversation, be it on Mother Teresa or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the characters he reported.
The BCCI on January 26, 2026 expressed deep sorrow at the demise of its former president Inderjit Singh Bindra and described him as a “visionary administrator” and one of the most “influential architects” of Indian cricket whose legacy will be remembered with deep respect.
Bindra, who served as the board president from 1993 to 1996, passed away in New Delhi. He was 84.
Bindra, along with former presidents N.K.P. Salve and Jagmohan Dalmiya, played a pivotal role in bringing the 1987 ICC Cricket World Cup to the subcontinent – the first time the tournament was held outside England after three successive editions.
Madhya Pradesh will observe 2026 as the 'year of agriculture', Governor Mangu Bhai Patel said on January 26, 2026, citing that the budget for the sector has been increased to ₹27,000 crore over the years.
Mr. Patel was addressing a function to mark the 77th Republic Day in the State capital.
He said that the budget for agriculture and allied sectors has increased from ₹600 crore in 2002-03 to over ₹27,000 crore in 2024-25.
He said that the e-Mandi scheme has been implemented in 259 markets in the State, and 40 lakh farmers have registered.
Under the Pradhan Mantri Janjati Adivasi Nyay Maha Abhiyan, construction of 55 roads in 24 districts has been completed, Patel said.
Apart from this, the Viksit Bharat—Guarantee for Rozgar and Ajeevika Mission (VB-G RAM G) will ensure 125 days of employment instead of 100 under the MNREGA, he said.
The International Cricket Council (ICC) has officially announced that Scotland will replace Bangladesh in Group C of the T20 World Cup, which will be hosted by India and Sri Lanka from February 7 onwards.
ICC Chief Executive Sanjog Gupta informed member boards of the decision in a formal letter, stating that Bangladesh’s demands to shift their scheduled matches away from India were not in accordance with ICC policy.
The letter said that there was no other option but to include Scotland in this matter.
A copy of this letter has also been sent to BCB President Aminul Islam, who is a member of the ICC Board.
Earlier, Cricket’s world governing body had given Bangladesh time to reconsider its position on playing matches in India. The ICC has made it clear that it is determined to protect the sanctity and integrity of the World Cup competition.
Scotland will now be in Group C in the opening stage of the tournament and will face West Indies on February 7, Italy on February 9 and England in Kolkata on February 14, after which it will go to Mumbai and face Nepal on February 17.
