30 January 2026 Current Affairs (With PDF)

We bring you the most relevant and important news updates from around the world and India, specially curated for competitive exams and different entrance exams. Today's Current Affairs cover all significant national and international headlines, legal updates, economic news, and environmental highlights to boost your preparation. With our crisp, to-the-point coverage, you can confidently tackle current affairs questions in your exams

Solid Waste Management (SWM) Rules, 2026

Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) notified the Solid Waste Management Rules, 2026, replacing the earlier SWM Rules, 2016. The revised framework seeks to modernise waste governance in India by embedding the principles of a circular economy and Extended Producer Responsibility.

Legal Basis and Implementation

• Notified under the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.
• To come into full operational effect from 1 April 2026.

Key Features of the SWM Rules, 2026

1. Mandatory Four-Stream Waste Segregation

Solid waste must be segregated at source into:

• Wet waste: Kitchen and biodegradable waste
• Dry waste: Plastics, paper, metals, etc.
• Sanitary waste: Used diapers, sanitary napkins, etc.
• Special-care waste: Paint containers, chemicals, batteries, etc.

2. Clear Identification of Bulk Waste Generators (BWGs)

Entities qualifying as BWGs include those with:

• Built-up area: ≥ 20,000 sq. metres, or
• Water consumption: ≥ 40,000 litres/day, or
• Waste generation: ≥ 100 kg/day
• Examples: Government departments, local bodies, large institutions.

3. Extended Bulk Waste Generator Responsibility (EBWGR)

• Bulk waste generators are made directly accountable for Collection, Processing, Environmentally sound disposal of the waste they generate

4. Centralised Digital Monitoring System

• Creation of a central online portal to track Waste generation, Collection and segregation, Transportation, Processing and disposal

5. Promotion of Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF)

• RDF is produced from high-calorific, non-recyclable municipal waste such as plastics, paper, and textiles.
• Mandatory utilisation of RDF by Cement plants, Waste-to-energy facilities, Other designated industrial units

6. Stringent Restrictions on Landfilling

• Landfills permitted only for Non-recyclable, Non-energy recoverable waste, Inert materials
• Emphasis on minimising landfill dependency.

7. Special Provisions for Hilly Areas and Islands

• Local bodies empowered to Levy user charges on tourists and Regulate tourist inflow based on waste-handling capacity

8. Environmental Compensation for Non-Compliance

• Provision for imposing Environmental Compensation (EC) based on the ‘Polluter Pays’ principle.
• Applicable to individuals, institutions, and authorities failing to meet compliance norms.

The SWM Rules, 2026 represent a shift from waste disposal to waste resource management, strengthening accountability, promoting industrial waste utilisation, and enabling data-driven governance to support sustainable urban and rural development.

Study Highlights Escalating Health Impacts of Plastic Pollution

A recent global study has warned that health-related harms caused by plastic pollution are projected to double between 2016 and 2040, underscoring the growing public health dimension of the plastics crisis.

Key Findings of the Study

1. Rising Plastic Production

• Global plastic production is unlikely to peak before 2100.
• Worldwide demand for plastics is expected to double by 2050, intensifying environmental and health risks.

2. Adverse Impacts on Human Health

The entire lifecycle of plastics—from extraction to disposal—releases:

• Gases and pollutants linked to respiratory diseases
• Toxic chemicals associated with cancers and endocrine disorders

3. Microplastics and Nanoplastics Exposure

• Microplastics and nanoplastics have been detected in human tissues.
• Early scientific evidence points to Cellular damage & #Immune system responses
• Long-term health consequences remain an area of active research.

4. Cumulative Environmental Pollution

• Plastic lifecycles contribute to Stratospheric ozone depletion, Photochemical smog formation, Fine particulate matter (PM) emissions
• These processes collectively exacerbate public health challenges.

Key Measures to Reduce Plastic Pollution

1. Domestic Policy Interventions (India)

Plastic Waste Management (Amendment) Rules, 2021

• Strengthened regulatory oversight of plastic waste management.
• Enforced a ban on identified single-use plastic items from 1 July 2022.

Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), 2022

• Makes producers, importers, and brand owners accountable for Collection, Recycling, Environmentally sound disposal of plastic waste

2. India’s Role in Global Initiatives

Multilateral Environmental Agreements

• Basel, Rotterdam, and Stockholm Conventions (2019): India supported the inclusion of plastic waste under the Prior Informed Consent (PIC) mechanism.
• G20 Osaka Blue Ocean Vision (2019): Commitment to eliminate additional plastic waste entering oceans by 2050.

High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People (2021)

• India joined the coalition aiming to protect at least 30% of global land and oceans by 2030.

3. Other Ongoing Initiatives

Global:

• UNEP-led plastics initiatives
• Negotiations towards a Global Plastics Treaty

National (India):

• Establishment of Plastic Parks
• Implementation of Swachh Bharat Mission and allied waste management programmes

The study reinforces that plastic pollution is no longer only an environmental issue but a major public health challenge, demanding coordinated policy action, technological innovation, and international cooperation to curb its long-term impacts.

Over Half of India’s Major River Deltas Are Sinking: Study

A recent scientific study has revealed that more than half of India’s major river deltas are experiencing subsidence, placing them among the most vulnerable coastal regions globally. The findings highlight growing risks to populations, ecosystems, and urban centres located in deltaic regions.

Key Findings of the Study

1. Global Delta Subsidence Hotspots

• Seven major river deltas collectively account for about 57% of the total subsiding delta area worldwide: Ganga–Brahmaputra, Nile, Mekong, Yangtze, Amazon, Irrawaddy, Mississippi

2. Accelerated Land Subsidence

• Between 2014 and 2023, over 50% of the world’s river deltas recorded subsidence rates exceeding 3 mm per year.
• In India, the Brahmani and Mahanadi deltas emerged among the fastest-sinking delta systems.

Key Drivers of Delta Sinking

1. Excessive Groundwater Extraction

• Intensive withdrawal for Agriculture, Industrial use, Urban and domestic consumption
• Particularly severe in densely populated deltaic regions.

2. Land Subsidence

• Continuous compaction of underlying sediments due to Groundwater depletion and Natural sediment consolidation

3. Disruption of Sediment Supply

• Seasonal silt deposition is crucial for maintaining delta elevation.
• River regulation, dams, embankments, and other infrastructure interrupt natural sediment flow, weakening delta resilience.

About River Deltas

1. Formation and Characteristics:

• Deltas are depositional landforms created when rivers deposit sediments as they flow into Oceans, Seas, Lakes, Other rivers
• Formation requires: Slow and steady river flow & Adequate sediment load
• Consequently, not all rivers form deltas.

2. Global Importance:

• Occupy only around 1% of Earth’s land area.
• Support nearly 6% of the global population.
• Host 10 out of the world’s 34 megacities, making them economically and demographically critical.

Measures to Protect River Deltas

1. Integrated Management Approaches

• Focus on subsidence mitigation through Regulation of groundwater extraction, Managed aquifer recharge, Sustainable sediment management

2. Targeted and Localised Interventions

• Treat delta subsidence as an immediate, site-specific challenge.
• Combine local actions with broader strategies to address climate change-induced sea-level rise.

3. Advanced Monitoring and Technology

• Use of InSAR (Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar) to Monitor surface elevation changes and Track subsidence patterns with high precision

Personality in News: Lala Lajpat Rai

The Prime Minister paid tribute to Lala Lajpat Rai, popularly known as “Punjab Kesari”, on his birth anniversary, recalling his enduring contribution to India’s freedom struggle and nation-building.

About Lala Lajpat Rai (1865–1928)

Early Life

• Born in Punjab in 1865.
• Emerged as one of the most influential nationalist leaders of the early 20th century.

Role in the Indian Freedom Movement

1. Nationalist Leadership

• A prominent leader of the assertive (extremist) stream of the Indian National Congress.
• Part of the celebrated nationalist trio Lal–Bal–Pal, along with Bal Gangadhar Tilak and Bipin Chandra Pal

2. Organisational Leadership

• Elected President of the Indian National Congress at the Calcutta Session (1920).
• Served as President of the All India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) in 1920, highlighting his engagement with labour rights.

Institution Building and Movements

Key Organisations and Initiatives

• Servants of the People Society – focused on social service and national reconstruction.
• Hindu Relief Movement – aimed at social welfare.
• Indian Home Rule League of America – promoted India’s freedom cause abroad.
• Played a significant role in the establishment of the Punjab National Bank, strengthening indigenous financial institutions.

Literary and Intellectual Contributions

1. Journalism

• Founded the journal ‘The People’.
• Regular contributor to ‘The Tribune’, using the press as a tool for nationalist mobilisation.

2. Major Works

• Unhappy India
• Young India: An Interpretation
• History of the Arya Samaj
• England’s Debt to India
• Biographical writings on Mazzini, Garibaldi, and Swami Dayanand Saraswati

3. Martyrdom and Legacy

• Led a peaceful protest in Lahore (1928) against the Simon Commission.
• Sustained fatal injuries during a police lathi charge, leading to his death.
• His sacrifice became a powerful symbol of resistance against colonial repression.

Aspirational District Programme

NITI Aayog has launched ‘Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0’ to intensify efforts towards achieving saturation of key performance indicators under the Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP) and the Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP).

About Aspirational Districts Programme (ADP)

1. Launch and Objective

• Launched: 2018 by NITI Aayog.
• Objective is to bring about rapid and inclusive development in 112 identified backward districts through focused governance and outcome-based monitoring.

2 .Thematic Areas

• Development is tracked across five core themes: Health and Nutrition, Education, Agriculture and Water Resources, Financial Inclusion and Skill Development, Basic Infrastructure

3. Monitoring Framework

• Progress assessed using 49 key development indicators.
• Emphasis on Real-time data monitoring, Competition and collaboration among districts, Convergence of central and state schemes

Aspirational Blocks Programme (ABP)

1. Launch and Coverage

• Launched: 2023 by NITI Aayog.
• Covers 513 blocks spread across 329 districts nationwide.

2. Objective

• Focuses on last-mile governance by ensuring saturation of essential public services at the block level.
• Builds upon the district-level gains achieved under ADP.

Sampoornata Abhiyan 2.0

Purpose

• Aimed at accelerating full coverage of priority indicators under both ADP and ABP.
• Seeks to convert incremental progress into complete saturation outcomes.

Presidential Address to Parliament

The President of India addressed a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament at the commencement of the Budget Session, outlining the government’s priorities and policy direction.

Constitutional Basis of the Presidential Address

1. Article 86 – Right to Address and Send Messages

• Empowers the President to Address either House of Parliament individually, or Address both Houses together.
• Also authorises the President to send messages to either House regarding legislative or other matters.

2. Article 87 – Special Address by the President

• Mandates the President to address both Houses assembled together on specific occasions.

Instances of Special Presidential Address (Article 87)

1. After a General Election

• At the beginning of the first session following each general election to the Lok Sabha.

2. Annual Address

• At the commencement of the first session of Parliament every year, usually coinciding with the Budget Session.

Gita Mittal Committee

The Supreme Court has extended the tenure of the Gita Mittal Committee by an additional six months.

Composition

• Three-member all-women committee
• Comprised of former High Court judges
• Chaired by Justice Gita Mittal, former Chief Justice of the Jammu & Kashmir High Court

Background and Purpose

• Constituted by the Supreme Court in August 2023
• Established in response to humanitarian issues arising from ethnic violence in Manipur

Key Mandate

• Examine the nature and scale of violence against women
• Ensure access to Free medical care & Psychological counselling and trauma support for survivors
• Recommend measures for relief, rehabilitation, and justice delivery

SJ-100 Aircraft

Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Russia’s United Aircraft Corporation (UAC) have signed an agreement for the production of Superjet-100 (SJ-100) commercial aircraft in India, marking a significant step in India’s civil aviation manufacturing capabilities.

About the SJ-100 Aircraft

• Type: New-generation short-haul commercial jet
• Seating capacity: Up to 103 passengers
• Operational range: Approximately 3,500 km
• Designed primarily for regional and short-distance routes

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