Economy
79th Foundation Day of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS):
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- Context: On its 79th Foundation Day (6 January 2026), Union Minister Pralhad Joshi highlighted BIS’s transition from mere regulation to facilitation, promoting a culture of quality and ease of doing business, including concessions for MSMEs and digital transformation of standards processes.
- What is BIS and its significance: The Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) is India’s National Standards Body functioning under the Department of Consumer Affairs, Ministry of Consumer Affairs, Food & Public Distribution. It is responsible for formulation, promotion, and certification of standards to ensure quality, safety, and reliability of goods and services in India.
- Evolution and current scope: Originating from the Indian Standards Institution (ISI) founded on 6 January 1947, BIS now operates with over 23,300 Indian Standards in force, covering traditional and emerging sectors such as renewable energy, electric mobility, smart infrastructure and digital technologies.
- Key initiatives launched: Several forward-looking initiatives were launched, including:
- The BIS Standardisation Portal for streamlined standards development and collaboration.
- Manak Se Mahila Shakti for women’s empowerment through quality awareness.
- BIS educational content on Rashtriya e-Pustakalay to build quality consciousness among youth.
- MoUs with premier academic institutions to integrate standardisation into education and R&D.
- Achievements and digital transformation: BIS reported development of 600+ new standards across diverse domains and significant growth in product certification, with fast-track licences and expanded mandatory certifications, alongside strengthened digital and laboratory capabilities.
(PIB)
Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC:
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- Context: Tickets for over 170 Archaeological Survey of India (ASI)-protected heritage sites and museums can now be booked online through multiple ONDC-enabled applications, expanding digital access and convenience for tourists and visitors. These include popular interfaces like Highway Delite, Pelocal (WhatsApp-based), and Abhee by Mondee.
- What is ONDC? The Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) is an open-source, government-backed digital commerce network that enables buyers and sellers to transact across a federated ecosystem of interoperable apps rather than closed proprietary platforms. It aims to democratise e-commerce, enhance competition, and increase consumer choice.
- Benefits to Users: Booking through the ONDC network allows visitors to avoid long queues at physical ticket counters, ensuring faster and smoother entry to monuments. Indian visitors get a ₹5 discount and foreign nationals receive a ₹50 discount on ASI tickets booked online through these apps.
- Digital Public Infrastructure & Interoperability: Integrating ASI ticketing into ONDC reflects the government’s push for interoperable digital public infrastructure that can broaden digital inclusion. By enabling multiple apps to access the same ticket inventory, ONDC enhances transparency, competition, and user choice in digital services.
(NIE)
CAG releases ‘State Finances 2023-24’ Report:
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- Context: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India’s State Finances 2023 24 report noted that Telangana, despite being in revenue surplus, was significantly dependent on Ways and Means Advances (WMA) and overdrafts for managing cash flows.
- CAG Releases State Finances 2023 24 Report: The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) released the second edition of the State Finances 2023 24 report, presenting audited fiscal data of all 28 States that helps assess fiscal health and inter state comparisons over a decade.
- Fiscal Trends & Stress Indicators:
- States’ Own Tax Revenue (SOTR) continues as the largest revenue source.
- Many States breached the fiscal deficit benchmark of 3% of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP).
- Commitments like salaries, pensions and interest consume large portions of revenue expenditure.
- Telangana’s Fiscal Position: Telangana was among States in revenue surplus, but the CAG flagged its near continuous dependence on WMA/overdrafts to meet cash flow mismatches using them for many days in FY 2023 24. This indicates liquidity stress, despite positive revenue accounts, highlighting challenges in short term fiscal management.
(TH)
Science & Technology
Mpemba Effect:
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- It is a supercomputer simulation of ice formation gives evidence of paradoxical phenomenon of water:
- Context: Indian scientists used supercomputer simulations to provide computational evidence for the Mpemba Effect, a long-standing paradox related to water freezing. The study was carried out by JNCASR under the Department of Science & Technology (DST) and published in Communications Physics.
- Mpemba Effect:
1. Mpemba Effect is a paradoxical phenomenon where hot water freezes faster than cold water under certain conditions.
2. Indian researchers used large-scale molecular dynamics simulations to show that hot water follows a different ice-nucleation pathway, enabling faster freezing.
3. The study enhances understanding of out-of-equilibrium thermodynamics and may have applications in cooling technologies and material science.
(PIB)
What are biomaterials and how do they work?
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- Context: Biomaterials are derived wholly or partly from biological sources and can replace or supplement conventional materials. They offer sustainable alternatives in packaging, textiles, construction, and healthcare.
- Biomaterials come from biological sources or are biologically engineered to replace/contribute to conventional materials.
- Types:
o Drop-in: Chemically identical to conventional materials.
o Drop-out: Chemically different, need new processing systems.
o Novel: Provide new functionalities (bioactivity, self-healing).
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- Applications: Widely used in healthcare (biodegradable sutures, tissue scaffolds), packaging, textiles, and construction.
- Strategic Importance: Reduce dependence on fossil-based plastics, add value to agriculture, and support sustainability goals.
- Challenges: Scaling feedstock, avoiding competition with food crops, improving waste management, and providing policy support.
(TH)
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