Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication

Context: The Ministry of Road Transport and Highways has announced plans to mandate Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication devices in vehicles to reduce road accidents through real-time collision warnings and advanced road safety technologies.

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• The decision was discussed during the Transport Development Council meeting, chaired by the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, and was held in New Delhi.
• Vehicles will be equipped with an On-Board Unit that enables direct communication with nearby vehicles.
• The system will send real-time collision warnings when it detects sudden braking or a stationary vehicle ahead.
• The technology is expected to significantly reduce crashes caused by poor visibility, fog or parked vehicles on roadsides.
• The estimated cost of the device is between ₹5,000 and ₹7,000 per vehicle.
• The mandate will initially apply to new vehicles with provisions for retrofitting older vehicles later.
• The measure is aligned with the UN Decade of Action for Road Safety (2021–2030) and National Commitment to reduce road accident deaths by 50% by 2030.

Vehicle-to-Vehicle (V2V) Communication Technology

• Vehicle-to-Vehicle communication allows vehicles to exchange information such as speed, location, acceleration and braking status.
• It operates through wireless on-board units that provide 360-degree situational awareness.
• The system alerts drivers to potential hazards even beyond line of sight.
• It improves safety during low visibility conditions such as fog, heavy rain, or night driving.
• V2V technology enhances cooperative driving and supports future intelligent transport systems.
• It is a key component of connected and autonomous vehicle ecosystems worldwide.

UNDESA Projects India’s Growth at 7.2% in FY 2025–26

Context: The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA) has projected India’s economic growth at 7.2 percent for the financial year 2025–26.

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• The projection is part of the World Economic Situation and Prospects 2026 report published by UNDESA.
• The estimate is marginally lower than the 7.4 percent growth projected by the Government of India in its First Advance Estimates of GDP for 2025–26.
• On a fiscal year basis, growth is projected at 6.6 percent in 2026–27 and 6.8 percent in 2027–28.
• India’s growth is expected to remain resilient compared to other major developing economies.

Impact of U.S. Tariffs

• Higher U.S. tariffs may weigh on India’s export performance if they persist beyond 2026.
• The United States accounts for nearly 18 percent of India’s total exports.
• Some export categories may face pressure due to tariff barriers.
• Key exports such as electronics and smartphones are expected to remain exempt from U.S. tariffs.
• Strong demand from Europe and the Middle East is projected to partially offset tariff-related losses.

Significance for India

• The report reinforces India’s position as a global growth engine.
• It highlights the importance of domestic demand led growth in cushioning external shocks.
• It underscores the role of public investment in sustaining medium-term economic expansion.

The United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UNDESA)

• UNDESA was established in 1948 and is the primary development-focused body within the UN Secretariat, playing a central role in advancing the UN’s economic, social and sustainable development agenda.
• It is headquartered at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
• It serves as the Secretariat for the 17 Sustainable Development Goals and acts as a key bridge between global policy frameworks and national-level implementation.

Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas 2026

Context: The Prime Minister extended greetings to the global Indian community on the occasion of Pravasi Bharatiya Diwas on 9^th January.

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• The Prime Minister stated that the Indian diaspora acts as a strong link between India and the rest of the world.
• He noted that overseas Indians have enriched the societies they live in while remaining connected to Indian culture and values.
• He described the diaspora as Rashtradoots who have carried and popularised Indian culture globally.
• He emphasised that the Government of India has taken several initiatives like Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award, to bring the diaspora closer to the country.

Pravasi Bhartiya Diwas

• It commemorates the day (9^th January) in 1915 when Mahatma Gandhi Ji (Father of the Nation), the greatest Pravasi, returned to India from South Africa to lead the country's freedom struggle.
• It was first established in 2003 to recognize and engage with the overseas Indian community.
• Since 2003 it has been celebrated once in two years as a flagship event of the Ministry of External Affairs.
• The primary goals of Pravasi Bharatiya Divas are:
• To commemorate the contributions of the Indian diaspora to India's development
• To support India's causes and work for the welfare of local Indian communities worldwide
• To provide a platform for overseas Indians to engage with the government and people of their ancestral land. 

Government Boosts Fertiliser Security

Context: The Government of India announced that about 73 percent of the country’s total fertiliser requirement in 2025 was met through domestic production.

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• The Government stated that fertiliser import dependence has reduced significantly due to higher domestic output.
• It highlighted that ensuring fertiliser security and timely availability to farmers remains a key policy priority.
• It emphasised the use of long-term supply agreements for critical raw materials to reduce global supply risks.
• It noted that strategic diversification of sourcing has helped safeguard against international market disruptions.

Trends in Domestic Fertiliser Production

• The Government reported a steady rise in total fertiliser production over the last five years.
• It stated that production increased from 433.29 lakh tonnes in 2021 to 467.87 lakh tonnes in 2022.
• It highlighted a sharp rise to 507.93 lakh tonnes in 2023, reflecting strengthened manufacturing capacity.
• It noted that production reached 509.57 lakh tonnes in 2024 and further rose to an all time high of 524.62 lakh tonnes in 2025.
• It clarified that the figures include urea, DAP (Di-Ammonium Phosphate), NPKs (Nitrogen, Phosphorus, Potassium), and single super phosphate.

Significance for Agriculture and Economy

• The Government stated that higher domestic production strengthens farmer confidence and input availability.
• It underlined that fertiliser self-sufficiency supports stable agricultural output and food security.
• It reaffirmed commitment to affordable fertilisers and sustainable agricultural growth.
• It concluded that fertiliser security is a key pillar of the Atmanirbhar Bharat vision and rural economic stability.

Varanasi ‘Tent City’, inaugurated by PM, violated environmental norms: NGT

Context: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has said that a ‘Tent City’ set up on the riverbed of the Ganga in Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh in 2023 was established and operated in “violation” of environmental laws.

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• The tent city was developed by the Varanasi Development Authority (VDA) in public-private partnership mode to tap the potential of tourism in the region and was inaugurated by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on January 13, 2023.
• The project with “luxurious accommodation” facilities was developed to cater to the increased tourist footfall in Varanasi, especially after the inauguration of the Kashi Vishwanath Dham.
• The tourists could reach the tent city by boats from different ghats situated in the vicinity. It was supposed to be operational from October to June every year and dismantled for three months when water level in Ganga rises during the monsoon.
• The Principal Bench of the NGT, comprising chairperson Prakash Shrivastava and expert member A. Senthil Vel, was hearing an application that the tent city was allegedly polluting the riverbed and river water and causing harm to flora and fauna.
• The applicant alleged that the tent city was set up at the place of “Kachhua Wildlife Sanctuary” and this sanctuary was illegally de-notified in 2020, and also the sewage of the Tent City was directly discharged into the river.
• NGT ordered Government authorities to ensure that in future, violating the provisions of River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 and the applicable environmental norms, no such Tent City is allowed to be set up on the bank of river Ganga or its tributaries.

Key highlights of NGT ruling:

• The respondents No. 11 and 12 (two private companies) of the Tent City was set up and operated in violation of the environmental norms and the provisions of the River Ganga (Rejuvenation, Protection and Management) Authorities Order, 2016 for which the environmental compensation has been levied, but not recovered.
• In a report submitted to the NGT in October 2023, the National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) noted that “application for the prior-approval for the project development of Tent City has been made after the project has already been implemented in 2022”.
• The NGT order also said that since the de-notification of a turtle sanctuary, which is related to the tent city, is pending before the Supreme Court, the green court “does not deem it proper” to go into this issue.