NATIONAL – DIARY OF EVENTS

India’s First National Report on Nagoya Protocol Implementation

• Context: India has recently submitted its first National Report (NR1) on the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol to the CBD Secretariat, marking an important step in strengthening its biodiversity governance efforts.

About the National Report

• The report was prepared by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change in partnership with the National Biodiversity Authority and covers the period from November 2017 to December 2025.
• Between 2017 and 2025, India granted a total of 12,830 Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS) approvals.
• Of these, 5,913 were issued by the National Biodiversity Authority, while 6,917 were granted by State Biodiversity Boards and Union Territory Biodiversity Councils for the commercial use of biological resources.

Nagoya Protocol 

• • The Nagoya Protocol is a supplementary agreement to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD).

• The CBD is an international treaty that was adopted at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio Earth Summit) in 1992 and came into force in 1993. 

• • Its main goal is to ensure the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, thereby supporting biodiversity conservation and its sustainable utilisation.

• The Nagoya Protocol was adopted in 2010 and became operational in 2014.

Scope of the Protocol

• It applies to genetic resources such as plants, animals, and microorganisms.
• It also covers traditional knowledge associated with these resources.
• Additionally, it addresses benefits generated from their use, including research and commercial applications.

Core Principles

• Access: Users must obtain Prior Informed Consent (PIC) from the providing country before accessing biological resources.
• Benefit Sharing: The benefits derived must be shared in a fair and equitable manner based on Mutually Agreed Terms (MAT).
• Compliance: It ensures that the use of resources follows the conditions set under PIC and MAT. 

India’s Institutional Framework

• India’s ABS system functions under the Biological Diversity Act, 2002, and is supported by the Biological Diversity Rules, 2024 and ABS Regulations, 2025. 
• It operates through a three-tier structure: the National Biodiversity Authority at the national level, State Biodiversity Boards/Union Territory Biodiversity Councils at the state level, and Biodiversity Management Committees (BMCs) at the grassroots level.
• Additionally, India has issued 3,556 Internationally Recognized Certificates of Compliance (IRCCs), accounting for more than 60% of the global total.

India’s Innovation Landscape

• Context: India’s improving position in global innovation rankings stands in contrast to its weak foundational factors, highlighting structural shortcomings and the necessity for greater involvement from the private sector.

Current State of India’s Innovation Ecosystem

• India secured the 38th position out of 139 economies in the Global Innovation Index (GII) 2025.
• In 2024–25, domestic applicants contributed 62% of total patent filings; however, India still trails behind countries like China and the United States in overall filings.
• Gross expenditure on research and development remains low at 0.65% of GDP.
• India stands at 101st out of 119 economies in terms of employment opportunities for women with higher education qualifications.

Gajapati Empire

• Context: A recently unearthed 15th century Telugu inscription in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh, has been linked to the Gajapati rulers of Odisha.

About the Gajapati Empire

• The Gajapati Empire (c. 1434–1541 CE) was a prominent medieval Hindu kingdom established by Kapilendra Deva in Odisha. The term “Gajapati” translates to “Master of Elephants.”

• At the height of its power in the 15th century, the empire stretched from the Ganges River in the north to the Kaveri River in the south.

• The rulers were strong patrons of the Odia language, and it was during this period that Sarala Das composed the first Odia version of the Mahabharata.

• The Gajapatis played a key role in enhancing the Jagannath Temple at Puri and also built the Kapilesvara Temple in Bhubaneswar.
• Although mainly followers of Vaishnavism, they practiced the Hari-Hara tradition, integrating the worship of both Shiva and Vishnu.
• Prataparudra Deva the last significant ruler of the dynasty, during whose reign the Vaishnava saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu arrived and influenced the region.

 

Samarth Incubation Programme

• Context: The Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT) recently hosted a Demo Day in New Delhi, showcasing 18 startups selected under its Samarth Incubation Programme.

About C-DOT and the Programme

• C-DOT is an autonomous research and development institution in the field of telecommunications, established in 1984 under the Ministry of Communications.

• • The Samarth Incubation Programme, introduced by C-DOT in 2025, provides financial assistance along with infrastructure support to startups recognized by DPIIT.

• The programme is carried out with support from Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), functioning under the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY), along with TiE (The Indus Entrepreneurs).

• Its primary aim is to encourage homegrown innovation and help early-stage startups move from the idea stage to market-ready solutions.
• The initiative targets sectors such as telecom software, cybersecurity, next-generation networks like 5G and 6G, artificial intelligence (AI), the Internet of Things (IoT), and quantum technologies.
  Current Facts
  • Union Finance Minister has stated that everyone in the country will be brought under the ambit of health insurance coverage by the year 2033.
  • Election Commission of India
    • • Context: The Election Commission of India has introduced additional digital facilities-accessible via online portals and mobile applications-for filing nomination papers for state legislative assembly elections (including those in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry) as well as by-elections.
    • Nomination papers can be filed using the Suvidha App. This application was upgraded to Suvidha 2.0 in 2024.
    • This service has now been integrated into the ECI Net Portal platform.
    • ECINET is a comprehensive digital interface currently being developed by the Election Commission of India (ECI). It consolidates over 40 mobile and web applications-currently in use-into a single unified platform.

    About the Election Commission of India

    • The Election Commission of India conducts elections for the Parliament, State Legislative Assemblies, the President, and the Vice President of India.
    • It was constituted under Article 324 of the Constitution of India.
    • It is a permanent constitutional body established on January 25, 1950.
    • • Initially a single-member body, it currently functions as a multi-member body comprising a Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and two Election Commissioners.
      • Operating as a multi-member body since October 1, 1993, decisions within the Commission are taken based on a majority vote.
    • The members are appointed by the President of India.
    • • Their tenure is for a period of 6 years or until they attain the age of 65, whichever occurs earlier.
    • Their salary and status are equivalent to those of Judges of the Supreme Court of India.
    • • The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) can be removed from office by the President of India—with the approval of the Parliament-following a procedure similar to that adopted for the removal of a Supreme Court Judge.
    • January 25th is celebrated as National Voters’ Day.