Prelims Current Affairs includes Asia Manufacturing Index (Ami) 2026, Open-Sea Marine Fish Farming Project, Responsible Nations Index (RNI), United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC), C-Dot’s Cell Broadcast Solution (CBS), Central Silk Board And Bagurumba Dance

INDEX

1. ASIA MANUFACTURING INDEX (AMI) 2026

Current Context: India has been ranked 6th among 11 Asian countries in the Asia Manufacturing Index 2026, highlighting steady progress but gaps in competitiveness.

ABOUT ASIA MANUFACTURING INDEX

• Released By: Dezan Shira & Associates.
• Nature: Annual assessment of manufacturing competitiveness in Asia.
• Coverage: Major Asian manufacturing economies.

EVALUATION FRAMEWORK

• Total Pillars:
• Pillars Include: Economy, political risk, business environment, international trade, tax policy, infrastructure, workforce and innovation.
• Sub-Parameters: 43 indicators.

INDIA’S PERFORMANCE

• Rank:
• Strengths: Large domestic market, improving infrastructure and growing workforce.
• Challenges: Execution speed, policy stability and innovation depth.

TOP PERFORMERS

• Rank 1:
• Rank 2:
• Rank 3:
• Other Notables: Singapore (4th), South Korea (5th).

POLICY AND PROGRAMME

2. OPEN-SEA MARINE FISH FARMING PROJECT

Current Context: India’s first-ever open-sea Marine Fish Farming project has been launched in the Andaman Sea.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

• Launched By: Union Ministry of Earth Sciences.
• Implementing Agencies: Ministry of Earth Sciences, National Institute of Ocean Technology, UT of Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

OBJECTIVES

• Promote open-sea cultivation of marine finfish and seaweed.
• Integrate marine farming with livelihood generation.

KEY COMPONENTS

• Marine Flora: Seaweed cultivation.
• Marine Fauna: Finfish seeds for cage-based cultivation.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Strengthens Blue Economy.
• Unlocks economic potential of open seas.
• Enhances coastal livelihoods.

INDEX

3. RESPONSIBLE NATIONS INDEX (RNI)

Current Context: India has launched the Responsible Nations Index (RNI) at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi, to promote ethical governance and global responsibility beyond economic strength.

ABOUT RESPONSIBLE NATIONS INDEX

• Developed By: World Intellectual Foundation with JNU and IIM Mumbai.
• Countries Covered:

ASSESSMENT PARAMETERS

• Ethical governance.
• Social well-being.
• Environmental stewardship.
• Global responsibility.

RANKINGS

• Rank 1:
• Rank 2:
• Rank 3:
• India’s Rank: 16th (ahead of US and China).

ORGANISATION

4. UNITED NATIONS ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL COUNCIL (ECOSOC)

Current Context: The United Nations Economic and Social Council will mark its 80^th  anniversary on 23 January 2026.

ABOUT ECOSOC

• Established: 1945 under the UN Charter.
• UN Status: One of the six principal organs of the United Nations.
• Headquarters: New York, USA.

COMPOSITION

• Members:
• Term: Three years.
• Election: By UN General Assembly.

FUNCTIONS

• Coordinates economic, social, humanitarian and cultural activities.
• Acts as central forum for global socio-economic dialogue.
• Issues policy recommendations to member states.

AWARD

5. C-DOT’S CELL BROADCAST SOLUTION (CBS)

Current Context: C-DOT has received the SKOCH Award 2025 for its Cell Broadcast Solution.

ABOUT CELL BROADCAST SOLUTION

• Developed By: Centre for Development of Telematics (C-DOT).
• Type: Indigenous disaster and emergency alert system.

KEY FEATURES

• Near real-time alert dissemination.
• Works on 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G networks.
• Geo-targeted alerts in 21 Indian languages.
• Integrates IMD, CWC, INCOIS and Forest Survey of India.

SIGNIFICANCE

• Enhances disaster risk reduction.
• Supports Early Warnings for All initiative.
• Strengthens national emergency response framework.

ORGANISATION

6. CENTRAL SILK BOARD

Current Context: The Government has increased the approval limit of the Central Silk Board to speed up projects.

ABOUT CENTRAL SILK BOARD

• Established:
• Nature: Statutory body.
• Ministry: Ministry of Textiles.

SILK IN INDIA

• Global Rank: Second-largest producer; largest consumer.
• Types: Mulberry, Tasar, Muga and Eri.
• Mulberry Share: 92% of raw silk production.

MAJOR PRODUCING STATES

• Karnataka
• Andhra Pradesh
• Tamil Nadu
• West Bengal
• Jammu and Kashmir

CULTURE

7. BAGURUMBA DANCE

Current Context: The Prime Minister participated in Bagurumba Dwhou 2026, celebrating Bodo culture in Assam.

ABOUT BAGURUMBA DANCE

• Community: Bodo tribe of Assam.
• Nature: Traditional folk dance.

CHARACTERISTICS

• Inspired by nature and blooming flowers.
• Performed mainly by young women.
• Men accompany as musicians using traditional instruments.
• Performed in groups forming circles or lines.

CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE

• Symbolises peace, fertility and joy.
• Closely associated with Bwisagu (Bodo New Year) and Domasi.

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