January 13, 2026 - Dinamani Newspaper -
Tit bits
1.
19 key agreements were signed between India and Germany to strengthen
cooperation in various sectors, including defense, trade, and technology.
(i)
These announcements were made at a joint press conference attended by the Prime
Ministers of both countries after talks held in Ahmedabad, Gujarat. A
significant announcement was also made regarding visa-free travel for Indians
transiting through Germany to other countries.
(ii)
The German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in India for a two-day state
visit. This is his first official visit to Asian countries.
(iii)
Trade and Economy: Prime Minister Modi highlighted that bilateral trade has
crossed a record $50 billion and that more than 2,000 German companies are
operating in India. A joint declaration was also signed to further boost
economic growth. Both leaders reiterated their commitment to finalizing the
India-European Union Free Trade Agreement soon.
(iv)
Green Energy and Technology: The two countries have jointly launched a special
center for the renewable energy sector. It has also been decided to intensify
cooperation in artificial intelligence (AI) and green ammonia production. The
Prime Minister Modi stated that India-Germany cooperation in green energy and
advanced technology sectors is future-oriented.
(v)
Employment and Skill Development: Discussions on employment, skill development,
and immigration also featured prominently in the meeting. A new framework has
been created to facilitate employment opportunities for skilled Indian workers
and healthcare professionals to meet the demand in the information technology
and engineering sectors in Germany.
(vi)
Furthermore, the comprehensive action plan for higher education signed between
India and Germany will create a new direction in the education sector of both
countries. He requested that Germany's world-class universities should
establish their campuses in India, providing new opportunities for Indian
students.
(vii)
Culture and Other Matters:
An
agreement was signed to develop the National Maritime Heritage Complex in
Gujarat in collaboration with a German maritime museum.
(viii)
New projects have been announced in three African countries—Ghana, Cameroon,
and Malawi—under the India-Germany trilateral development cooperation to assist
developing nations.
(ix)
In commemoration of this meeting, a German consulate is also to be opened in
Ahmedabad.
(x) Additionally, a joint declaration was signed
to strengthen cooperation between India and Germany in the semiconductor
sector, rare earth minerals, sports and postal services, telecommunications,
and research and development in the bioeconomy.
2.
The Greenland's security and defense belong to the NATO alliance, as clarified
by the region's Prime Minister, Jens-Frederik Nielsen.
(i)
In his Facebook post on the matter, he stated: "Greenland is a part of the
Kingdom of Denmark and a member of the NATO alliance. Therefore, our security
and defense belong to NATO. This is a fundamental and firm position."
(ii)
This statement comes after US President Donald Trump has repeatedly insisted on
annexing Greenland to the United States. He argues that it would be a threat to
the US if Greenland fell into the hands of Russia or China. The Prime Minister
of Greenland made this statement while also mentioning that there are plans to
seize Greenland through military action.
3.
In the case filed alleging genocide against the Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar,
the trial began at the International Criminal Court in The Hague, Netherlands
against the country's Government. The court's official announcement stated the
following:
(i)
The trial has commenced in the case filed by Gambia in 2019 alleging genocide
against the Rohingyas.
(ii)
The announcement stated that the case seeks to declare the attacks carried out
by the Myanmar military against the Rohingya people in 2017 as genocide.
Myanmar denies these allegations. The Myanmar Government argues that it was a
legitimate operation against terrorists.
(iii)
In this case, a report published in 2017 by an international advisory group
headed by former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon is considered a key piece of
evidence. That report accuses the Myanmar military of acting with the intent of
"genocide" against the Rohingya people.
(iv)
During that operation, more than 700,000 Rohingya people fled from Myanmar to
Bangladesh as refugees. The UN estimates that thousands were killed in the
attacks against them.
(v)
This case was initiated in 2019, and in 2022, the International Court of
Justice ordered measures to prevent violence against the Rohingya people and to
preserve evidence.
(vi)
This trial is considered one of the most important cases before the
International Criminal Court. The final verdict is expected to take several
years.
4.
The IOC announced that the National Olympic Academy has been relaunched in
Ahmedabad, and that Indian Olympic Association (IOA) president P.T. Usha has
been appointed as its head.
5.
VJD Method - Just as the target score for rain-affected matches in international
cricket is calculated using the 'DLS' (Duckworth-Lewis) method, the target for
rain-affected matches in domestic cricket is calculated using the 'VJD' (V.
Jayadevan) method. This calculation method was devised by V. Jayadevan, an
engineer from Kerala.
6.
The Prime Minister Modi inaugurated the International Kite Festival.
(i)
The International Kite Festival was held on the banks of the Sabarmati River.
(ii)
The International Kite Festival is held annually in Gujarat in conjunction with
the Makar Sankranti festival. This year, the festival will be held until
January 14th.
(iii)
It is noteworthy that 3.83 lakh tourists visited the festival last year.
7.
While India strongly objected to China's construction activities in the
Shaksgam Valley located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, China has responded that
the area belongs to them and that the infrastructure work undertaken there is
legitimate.
(i)
In 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded approximately 5,180 square kilometers of
Indian territory (the Shaksgam Valley), located in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir,
to China.
(ii)
Recently commenting on this issue, the spokesperson for the Indian Ministry of
External Affairs, Randhir Jaiswal, stated, "The Shaksgam Valley is a part
of India. India has never recognized the border agreement signed between
Pakistan and China in 1963. This agreement is illegal.
We
also do not recognize the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor project that passes
through Indian territory under Pakistan's illegal occupation." “India has
repeatedly clarified to Chinese and Pakistani authorities that Jammu and
Kashmir and the Union Territory of Ladakh are integral and inseparable parts of
India,” he said.
(iii)
Responding to India's objection, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning
said: The Shaksgam Valley is a territory under Chinese jurisdiction. No one has
the right to question the infrastructure projects undertaken on our own soil.
China and Pakistan, as sovereign nations, concluded a border agreement on this
matter as early as the 1960s. Furthermore, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor
project is merely an economic initiative aimed at promoting social development
and improving people's livelihoods. There is no change in China's position that
the Kashmir issue should be resolved peacefully in accordance with the
principles of the UN Charter, she added.
8.
The PSLV C-62 rocket, launched from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh on Monday
(Jan. 12), failed to reach its intended target due to a technical malfunction.
ISRO Chairman Narayanan stated that a problem was detected in the third stage
of the rocket and that an investigation is underway.
(i)
The advanced satellite EOS-N1 (Anvesha), intended for defense applications, was
manufactured by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). It was
designed to provide real-time data for earth observation and military security.
(ii)
ISRO scientists had planned to place it in a 505 km sun-synchronous orbit using
the PSLV C-62 rocket.
(iii) Arrangements were also made to send 15 other
satellites along with it, including the AyushSat satellite manufactured by
Chennai-based OrbitAid startup and the KIT re-entry spacecraft developed by a
Spanish startup.
(iv)
The PSLV C-62 rocket is 44.4 meters tall. It has four stages in total,
consisting of two liquid fuel engines and two solid-state engines.
(v)
After the final preparations and a 22.30-hour countdown, the PSLV C-62 rocket
was launched at 10:18 AM on Monday (Jan. 12) from the first launch pad of the
Satish Dhawan Space Centre in Sriharikota.
(vi)
The first two stages were successfully released 8 minutes after the rocket
lifted off from the ground. Then, the third stage, the PS3 system, was
activated. At that moment, a sudden technical malfunction appears to have
occurred in it.
(vii)
Subsequently, the rocket deviated from its planned trajectory and lost
communication with the control center a few minutes later. Following this, ISRO
announced that the mission could not be successfully completed.
(viii)
Regarding this, ISRO Chairman V. Narayanan stated:
"The
operations of the third stage of the PSLV C-62 rocket proceeded as planned
until the end. However, after that, the rocket deviated from its designated path.
A thorough investigation will be conducted, and further information will be
provided later."
(ix)
It is noteworthy that previously, in May of last year, the PSLV C-61 rocket,
which was launched to place the advanced EOS-09 RISAT 1B satellite for earth
observation purposes, also failed to reach its target. A problem occurred in
the third stage of that rocket as well.
9.
The Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla announced that Union Finance Minister Nirmala
Sitharaman will present the Union Budget on February 1st (Sunday).
(i)
The Parliament's Budget Session begins on January 28th. On that day, President
Droupadi Murmu will address a joint sitting of Parliament. Following the
President's address, Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will present the Economic
Survey in both Houses of Parliament.
(ii)
The Union Budget is presented annually on February 1st. While there was
uncertainty regarding whether the budget would be presented on February 1st
this year, as it falls on a Sunday, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla confirmed in
Delhi that the Union Budget will indeed be presented on February 1st.
10.
Sergio Gor, the newly appointed US Ambassador to India, stated that no other
country is more important to the United States than India.
(i)
Upon arriving at the US Embassy in Delhi, he formally assumed charge as the
ambassador. Earlier, while speaking to reporters, he said: “India and the
United States are set to become strategic partners in the 'Pax Silica'
initiative, which will increase cooperation in fields including rare earth
elements and artificial intelligence. The United States launched the 'Pax
Silica' initiative last month. Countries including Japan, South Korea, the
United Kingdom, and Israel have already joined it. I am pleased to announce
that India will soon be invited to join as a full-fledged member. He added that
it is essential for India and the United States to work together as the world
enters the era of new technologies.”