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Jharkhand Notifies PESA Rules After 25 Years, Reviving Debate on Tribal Self-Rule

January 18, 2026

Jharkhand Notifies PESA Rules After 25 Years, Reviving Debate on Tribal Self-Governance

Twenty-five years after attaining statehood, Jharkhand has finally notified rules under the Panchayat (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act, 1996 (PESA), a landmark legislation aimed at strengthening grassroots democracy in tribal regions. The long-delayed step has reopened constitutional, political, and social debates over the real authority of the Gram Sabha, the role of customary institutions, and the balance between self-rule and administrative control in Fifth Schedule Areas.

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CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative Bridges Science, Skills and Industry for Atmanirbhar Bharat

January 18, 2026

CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative Strengthens India’s Science–Skill–Industry Ecosystem

The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is implementing the CSIR Integrated Skill Initiative, a flagship national programme aimed at strengthening India’s skilled workforce by bridging the gap between scientific research, industry requirements, and employable skills. Aligned with the national vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and Skill India, the initiative leverages CSIR’s extensive research infrastructure and nationwide laboratory network to integrate skill development with science and technology.

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EU Leaders to Be Chief Guests at India’s 77th Republic Day, 16th India–EU Summit on Jan 27

January 18, 2026

EU Leaders to Be Chief Guests at India’s 77th Republic Day, Marking New Phase in India–EU Ties

At the invitation of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, European Council President Antonio Luís Santos da Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen will pay a State Visit to India from January 25 to 27, 2026. In a significant diplomatic gesture, the two European Union leaders will serve as Chief Guests at India’s 77th Republic Day celebrations, underscoring the growing strategic depth of India–EU relations.

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Wolf Puppy’s Last Meal Unlocks Woolly Rhinoceros Genome from the Ice Age

January 18, 2026

Ice Age Discovery: Woolly Rhinoceros Genome Recovered from Wolf Puppy’s Stomach

In a remarkable scientific breakthrough, researchers have recovered a complete genome of the woolly rhinoceros from undigested stomach contents of a 14,400-year-old wolf puppy preserved in Siberian permafrost. The puppy, discovered near the village of Tumat in northeastern Siberia, had consumed meat from a woolly rhinoceros shortly before its death, providing scientists with an unprecedented genetic window into the final days of this iconic Ice Age species.

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Spituk Gustor Festival Begins in Ladakh, Marking Spiritual Renewal

January 17, 2026

Spituk Gustor Festival Begins in Ladakh, Marking Spiritual Renewal and Cultural Continuity

The annual two-day monastic festival Spituk Gustor has commenced in Ladakh, marking a spiritually significant moment in the region’s cultural calendar. Celebrated after a week-long period of prayers and rituals, the festival is dedicated to seeking world peace, prosperity, and the victory of good over evil. It also symbolically signals the conclusion of the first phase of Ladakh’s severe winter.

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